Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted nine requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Dairy Farmers of America and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 3.016 million pounds (1,338 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through September 2013.
Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 56.826 million pounds of cheese, 51.727 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.653 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.
CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Want to learn more about New Holland products and services available to cattlemen? The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is partnering with New Holland to answer producer questions about everything from field equipment, to maintenance, to quality haymaking.
Tune in as NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen goes LIVE from Denver, Colo., on Tues., May 21, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on RFD-TV. This special live episode will allow viewers to call in and speak directly with New Holland representatives about a variety of topics.
The program will be broadcast again on RFD-TV Wed., May 22, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern and Sat., May 25, at 9 a.m. Eastern. In addition, all episodes of NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen are available on the program’s website. The show is also on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter.
Congratulations to Dr. Trevor Tomkins, founder of venture | dairy, for receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA).
In making the award, AFIA cited Tomkins’ achievements during his 30-year career as an active member of the U.S. Feed Industry, including his research contribution to the U.S. dairy industry, contributions to the National Research Council’s subcommittee that revised the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle in 2001, and more recently his role in leading Milk Specialties Global to its position as one of the largest independent dairy companies in the U.S.
Following the profitable sale of Milk Specialties Global in 2011, Tomkins founded venture | dairy, using his industry experience, passion and connections to advance dairying in emerging global markets. venture | dairy is an innovative, for-profit impact investment company working with local partners in emerging markets to bring capital, technology, education and opportunity to producers and entrepreneurs throughout the dairy value chain.
Tomkins earned a Ph.D. in animal science at the University of Reading and emigrated with his family from the U.K. to the U.S. after living and working in Europe and South Africa for the first 10 years of his career.
The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® has two new resources available to advance the industry’s ability to track, improve and communicate sustainability performance and progress across the supply chain.
The draft “Stewardship and Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy: A voluntary framework for tracking and communicating progress,” which has undergone a thorough review process by representatives from across the dairy industry and is now available for a 60-day open stakeholder consultation period
The 2012 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report, the industry’s third annual report dedicated to reporting progress toward its sustainability goals
The Stewardship and Sustainability Guide for U.S. Dairy identifies the most important indicators for assessing dairy sustainability and communicating results. The indicators are based on scientific life cycle assessment studies commissioned by the Innovation Center, and the practical experience of industry members and other experts from nongovernmental, academic and government organizations.
The Guide has been through an extensive and collaborative industry-wide process of testing, piloting and refining content and incorporates initial input from dairy producers, cooperatives and dairy processors.
A 60-day stakeholder consultation period to obtain feedback that will help ensure the Guide is meaningful, useful and relevant begins on May 15, 2013, and runs through July 14, 2013.
Funding from government and nongovernmental organizations has increased by nearly 300 percent from 2008 to 2012, supplementing the industry’s own investments in sustainability projects. This progress is published in the 2012 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report, a comprehensive resource describing the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Commitment and leadership of the dairy industry and its partners. The report covers challenges and opportunities facing the dairy industry in the 21st century, outlines environmental priorities and highlights the cow’s contribution to a sustainable food system. Using statistics, infographics and stories, the report provides a snapshot of the dairy industry supply chain from farm to table.
Posted: May 15, 2013 at 3:31 pm
By Cindy Zimmerman
The House Agriculture Committee came out in support of the Dairy Security Act (DSA) on Wednesday, voting to reject an amendment by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA) to remove the supply management mechanism of the act.
“Supply management is antithetical to the future growth of the dairy industry,” Goodlatte and Scott said in a statement expressing their disappointment in the vote. “A supply control program that will directly intervene in markets and increase milk prices will ultimately hurt dairy producers and consumers as well as dairy food manufacturers by stifling industry growth. This program is contrary to the reforms already in the Farm Bill.”
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) was pleased with the outcome. “The House committee has now twice rejected the Goodlatte-Scott effort to undermine establishment of a workable national dairy policy,” said NMPF president and CEO Jerry KozaK. “As the farm bill moves to the House floor, we hope that the committee’s decision today will be the final word on the matter. It is time for dairy processors to end their campaign of divisiveness, and assist us in moving the farm bill toward completion.”
The committee worked for over five hours straight on the bill before taking a break, but will reconvene this evening to finish. By contrast, the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday completed its work in less than four hours. House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) met with farm broadcasters just shortly before his committee began the markup saying he expected it to be a long day but maybe not quite as long as last year’s 15 hour session. “But I would note that we had approximately 100 amendments a year ago, as of this morning we have approximately 100 amendments this time,” he said.
Lucas says the bill will go to the House floor this year “a dramatic improvement over a year ago” but he does expect it to be a struggle. “Whatever we do in the committee, many of the battles – whether it is over dairy, or sugar, or the size of the nutrition reforms, will be fought out again on the floor of the United States House,” he said. “But it’s a struggle we’re prepared to engage in and we’re prepared to move forward on.”
Our poll results: Fifty-two percent said No, forty-one percent said Yes and seven percent said I Don’t Know. So most of you feel that ag gag bills are not fair. Do you think answers would be different if we called them “See Something, Say Something” laws?
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “What’s your opinion of committee farm bills?” The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 15-5 to approve their version of a 2013 farm bill. And according to House Ag Committee Chairman, Frank D. Lucas, “The work of the Agriculture Committee, including reauthorizing the Farm Bill, affects every American; ensuring that our farmers and ranchers have the tools they need to produce an abundant and affordable food and fiber supply is as important to our country as national defense.” Let us know what you think.
The House Agriculture Committee will take up their version of the bill on Wednesday, where an alternative plan to the DSA will be proposed. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told farm broadcasters meeting in Washington on Tuesday that he expects dairy to be a challenge in the farm bill.
“I think everybody likes the price stabilization piece of it, (but) how do you ensure that it doesn’t break the bank financially,” said Vilsack. “But clearly something’s got to get done in dairy because we’ve had too much volatility and we’ve lost too many of our producers because of it.”
A new analysis of the two dairy proposals under consideration in the House Agriculture Committee finds the Dairy Security Act (DSA) would better for farmers and less costly for taxpayers compared to the Goodlatte-Scott alternative.
The new report, prepared by University of Missouri agricultural economists Scott Brown and Daniel Madison, assessed how each option would have affected farm-level economics during the period 2009 through 2012. Under that model they found the DSA would have increased net farm revenues by $0.55 per cwt over the period studied, while the Goodlatte-Scott amendment would have raised farm revenue by only $0.48 per cwt. In addition, the model suggests that the Goodlatte-Scott proposal would have cost $1 billion over the 2009 to 2012 period compared to the DSA, because it would encourage more milk production at lower margins.
The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) has announced a strategically refocus of the association’s priorities and industry role.
DCHA will be redefining the information and services provided to its members to ensure relevant and progressive training and educational resources are available. These changes will help to further advance the profitability, health and performance of young dairy animals, as well as the profitability potential of its members operations.
Additionally, the organization will seek to modernize its professional image and reputation across the industry, working closely with allied industry and research-focused entities to help drive product and service developments that will improve the livelihood of calf and heifer raising operations.
Realigning association operations with an industry partner that has a deep focus on the dairy industry is the first step DCHA has taken towards accomplishing its goals. In the upcoming months, programs and services will be carefully reviewed and enhanced as appropriate. Concentrated efforts will be placed on an industry-leading conference agenda for the 2014 DCHA Annual Conference, to be held April 1-3, 2014 in Green Bay, Wis.
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted four requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) and Foremost Farms to sell 932,556 pounds (423 metric tons) of Cheddar cheese to customers in Asia and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through October 2013.
Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 53.810 million pounds of cheese, 51.727 million pounds of butter, 44,092 pounds of anhydrous milk fat and 218,258 pounds of whole milk powder to 31 countries on six continents. These sales are the equivalent of 1.626 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis. That is more than USDA’s projected increase in milk marketings for all of 2013.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.
CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Posted: May 14, 2013 at 6:51 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
The Senate Agriculture Committee meets this morning to consider the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 and the House ag committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow morning to consider their version of a farm bill. Drafts from both committees were released last week.
Chris Galen with the National Milk Producers Federation says both drafts contain the Dairy Security Act and he expects the Senate to pass this proposal which they support, but on the House side there is another proposal being offered which they oppose. “Basically it would turn farmers into takers of government welfare because it would not allow the marketplace to correct quick enough,” he said. “They would be getting margin insurance subsidized by the government but not getting the necessary price signals that would either restore the market price for milk or reduce the cost to the taxpayer of the program.” That alternative is being proposed by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).
Galen says Congress appears to be serious about getting a farm bill passed this year. “I don’t think anyone wants a repeat of 2012,” he said. “The good news is that we’ve heard rumors that not only is the Senate Ag committee going to work on the farm bill this week, but they may actually vote on it on the Senate floor this week.” The House was a hold out last week, of course, but Galen hopes they will schedule time for it this year. “I think the stars and planets will align and that they will either be desperate enough or sick enough to get us a new farm bill this year.”
Katie Couric is the newest milk mustache celebrity!
“Even when you have the day off, you still need protein. An 8 ounce glass of milk has 8 grams of protein. A glass worth raising, even on Mother’s Day.”
Jersey youth receiving national-level achievement, production and scholarship awards were honored by the American Jersey Cattle Association.
Winners in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest were Cassandra Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y., first; Cassandra Krull, Lake Mills, Wis., second; Natalie R. Sanders, Hilmar, Calif., third; Kelli Carstensen, Petaluma, Calif., fourth; Kara Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, fifth; Dylan Ellenburg, Morristown, Tenn.; Hanna Bachman, Ulysses, Pa., eighth; and Valery Silva, Beaver, Ore., tenth.
Winners in the National Jersey Youth Production Contest were Kara Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa, first; Ryan Lawton, Newark Valley, N.Y.; Colin McCalister, Hilmar, Calif.; Tommy Allen, Reedsburg, Wis.; Tyler Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Jasmine Noteboom, Warwick, N.Y.; and Meagan Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; and Avery Lutz, Mocksville, N.C.; Nathan Lawton, Newark Valley, N.Y.; Cassandra Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Emily Jane Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Tricia Jo Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Maxwell Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Amber Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.; and Clayton Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Michael Kortus, Lynden, Wash. was the winner of the 2012 Pot O’Gold Production Contest and $2,408.22 for Kilgus Finalist Gem-ET. Other Jersey youth receiving awards in the contest were Nathan Lawton, Newark Valley, N.Y.; Tricia Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Tyler Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Kara Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa; Clayton Kirchdoerfer, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; and Benjamin Colopy, Castile, N.Y.; Dore Baker, Wyoming, N.Y.; Ryan Lawton, Newark Valley, N.Y.; Tommy Allen, Reedsburg, Wis.; Korri Ann Briggs, Campbellsville, Ky.; and William Grammer, Sebring, Ohio.
The Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Cassandra Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y. The Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship for 2012-13 was awarded to Hannah Bachman, Ulysses, Pa. The Cedarcrest Farms Scholarship was awarded to Robyn Terrel, Honesdale, Pa. Kara Maxwell, Donahue, Iowa was awarded the the William R. Russell Memorial Scholarship and the Russell-Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies went to Kelli Carstensen, Petaluma, Calif. Lyman Rudgers, Attica, N.Y., won the Fred Stout Experience Award for an on-farm internship. Dylan Ellenburg, Morristown, Tenn., received the Reuben R. Cowles Youth Award.
The Minnesota Safety Council has awarded a Governor’s Safety Award to Dairy Farmers of America for superior performance in workplace safety and health at the Cooperative’s Zumbrota, Minn. manufacturing plant. DFA received a Meritorious Achievement Award.
Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury data as it compares with their industry’s national statistics, and on their progress in implementing a comprehensive safety program.
Winners are recognized at three levels: Meritorious Achievement Award, Outstanding Achievement Award and Award of Honor. As one of 143 Meritorious Achievement Award honorees, DFA has demonstrated incident rates that are better than the industry average for at least three years.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $19.5 million to support research, education and Extension activities associated with climate solutions in agriculture aimed at the impacts of climate variability and change on dairy and beef cattle.
The University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison, Wisconsin, received $9.9 million over five years to study the environmental impact of various dairy production systems and develop best management practices for producers to implement at the farm level. The project’s ultimate goal is to increase the resiliency of dairy production systems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The team will also develop an agricultural education curriculum with an urban foods focus at Vincent High School in Milwaukee in an effort to educate future leaders and consumers about the contributions of the dairy industry to economic and environmental sustainability. Curricula at the high school and college levels will be developed related to mitigation and adaptation to climate change and agricultural sustainability.
The University of Wisconsin is partnering in the project with the University of Arkansas, Cornell University, the University of Michigan, North Carolina A&T University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Washington, along with four USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories, the U.S. Department of Energy and the industry-sponsored Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.
Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma, received $9.6 million over five years to better understand vulnerability and resilience of Southern Great Plains beef in an environment of increased climate variability, dynamic land-use and fluctuating markets. The team’s goal is to safeguard regional beef production while mitigating the environmental footprint of agriculture. The project also includes education and Extension components to train the next generation of producers and researchers in addressing the impact of climate on beef cattle. Using a community- and citizen-science approach, the project will train young students and citizens to use GPS-enabled digital cameras and smartphones and web data portals to participate in field data collection. The geospatial data will be integrated into a portal for community-based analysis and inventory and used to educate the general public on climate change related to range-based beef production.
The team is comprised of 32 scientists from OSU, Kansas State University, University of Oklahoma, Tarleton State University, the Samuel R. Noble Foundation, and two ARS laboratories.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $19.5 million to support research, education and Extension activities associated with climate solutions in agriculture aimed at the impacts of climate variability and change on dairy and beef cattle. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty. The announcement is one part of the Department’s efforts to strengthen the rural economy.
The University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison, Wisconsin, received $9.9 million over five years to study the environmental impact of various dairy production systems and develop best management practices for producers to implement at the farm level. The University of Wisconsin is partnering in the project with the University of Arkansas, Cornell University, the University of Michigan, North Carolina A&T University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Washington, along with four USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratories, the U.S. Department of Energy and the industry-sponsored Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma, received $9.6 million over five years to better understand vulnerability and resilience of Southern Great Plains beef in an environment of increased climate variability, dynamic land-use and fluctuating markets.
A coalition of more than 50 state and national dairy organizations have sent a letter to members of the House Agriculture Committee urging them to include the Dairy Security Act in the farm bill when they begin mark up next week. The letter states the need for “a financially-sound risk management program to help farmers better manage margin volatility.”
The groups further ask the Committee members to reject the Dairy Freedom Act put forth by Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA) “because it would weaken the safety net for farmers in order to benefit dairy processors.” The Dairy Freedom Act does not contain the market stabilization component the DSA does. The groups contend the supply management provision would send a clear signal to farmers when production needs to be reduced resulting in a faster rebound in low-market situations.
Supporters of the Dairy Security Act argue the production controls would be detrimental to the dairy industry in that producers and processors would be reluctant to grow and expand for fear they may be called upon to cut milk output at some point. They also say that would make us an unreliable supplier on the world market.
The Senate Ag Committee is scheduled to mark up their farm bill on Tuesday but there are no indications the alternative Dairy Freedom Act will be introduced in that committee.
The Cool Cow mobile app puts the tools dairy producers need to monitor and address heat stress at their fingertips. Research shows that cows can begin to show the effects of heat stress at a Temperature Humidity Index or THI of 68. Reproduction can be impacted at a THI of 55.[1]
Heat stress and an associated 10 percent to 35 percent milk production loss[2] may cost a dairy producer $1.60 to $5.60 per cow per day.[3] These losses can continue to mount when reductions in reproductive performance and increased days open are added into the equation.
The mobile app features an easy to use heat stress calculator for inputting the current temperature and humidity readings. The temperature and humidity is then translated into a THI reading that shows the severity of heat stress, ranging from mild to extreme risk; providing dairy producers insight on the current conditions inside their barn. In addition to the heat stress calculator, the mobile app offers tips on mitigating heat stress from management to nutrition.
One lucky dairy farm family in Tennessee had the morning of a lifetime when weather personality, Al Roker, came to their farm to forecast the weather!
America’s favorite weather guru visited the Hatcher Family Dairy today as part of a “Wake Up with Al” contest in which three families across the country were selected to host the weatherman in their hometown.
So what did Roker learn during his visit?
For one thing, that cows aren’t necessarily the only animals on a dairy farm. Of course, there are plenty of cows around the farm. During his visit, Roker met three Today Show mini-mes: dairy calves named Al, Matt and Savannah. But he also got to sample fresh eggs from farm hens and feed two enthusiastic sheep.
Roker’s take: “This is just like when we bring pizza in for the crew!”
Dairy farming is a family business. The Hatcher farm has been in the family for generations. In fact, five different families all live on the farm and work to keep the business going.
Roker’s take: “It’s fantastic. This is truly a family farm.”
There’s nothing better than a home-cooked dairy breakfast. During his visit, the Hatchers treated Al to a traditional, farm-fresh breakfast that included eggs, bacon, rolls and of course milk.
Roker’s take: “If this is what I got every day, I’d be working on the farm, sure enough.”
Dairy farming takes a lot of hard work. While in Tennessee, Al got just a taste of the exhausting work on a dairy farm, including feeding the animals and working in the creamery.
When the Cornell dairy plant was demolished last year to make way for a new, improved Stocking Hall facility, Akron, N.Y.-based ice cream company Perry’s was the immediate choice to supply the Cornell campus with the frosty treat.
The Perry family connection to Cornell goes back generations, when Marlo Perry ’35 took knowledge acquired in his dairy science classes back to the family dairy to help his father, Morton, expand the ice cream business he had started in 1932.
Marlo was the first Perry to turn to Cornell for its dairy expertise. Since then, Perry’s has relied on Cornell to provide its employees with regular training and certification in dairy foods processing, high-temperature, short-time (HTST) pasteurization, sanitation and food safety. Perry’s also is supporting Cornell’s development of a food processing technology degree program in partnership with Genesee Community College to further develop the New York dairy workforce.
The first phase of the $105 million renovation of Stocking Hall will be complete by late spring, with dairy plant personnel expected to move back into Stocking Hall around May 20; ice cream will begin to be produced in the new dairy plant sometime in June. Cornell Ice Cream won’t be served, though, until the Dairy Bar’s grand opening event, set for the beginning of the fall 2013 semester, Huck says, which will give the new facility the chance to build up its inventory.
The Cornell Dairy Plant therefore will continue to partner with Perry’s Ice Cream throughout the summer to supply premium New York state ice cream to the Dairy Bar scoop shop.
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How many generations are you removed from the farm?”
Our poll results: Thirty percent say they are “One Generation, My Parents are Farmers,” 23% are Two, My Grandparents Were Farmers, 22% say None, I’m a Farmer, nine percent are not farmers but work in the ag industry, seven percent have No Direct Farm Connection, and three percent say Three, My Great-Grandparents Were Farmers, More Than Three, or Other. It is safe to say that most of our followers are not far removed from the farm, if at all!
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Are so-called “ag gag” bills fair?” In the wake of undercover videos at animal agriculture operations that have shown abuse, and especially those that were compiled over a period of time, edited and then released to the public without doing anything to stop the abuse or take it to the proper authorities, several states have passed legislation making that illegal. Most of the laws simply require mandatory reporting of animal cruelty when it happens but opponents have labeled them “ag gag” laws that would suppress efforts to document and publicize animal abuse. Those in favor prefer to call them “See Something, Say Something” bills. Do you feel that the so-called “ag gag” bills are prohibitive? Will these laws hamper efforts to stop animal cruelty? Does this impede our efforts for transparency in the food systems? Let us know.
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted nine requests for export assistance from Bongards Creameries, Dairy Farmers of America and Northwest Dairy Association (Darigold) to sell 3.016 million pounds (1,338 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The product will be delivered May through September 2013.
