Ad Urges HSUS Members to Stop Donations

News EditorAnimal Activists

Readers of World Dairy Diary, please be aware of the agenda of the Human Society of the United States (HSUS), and be sure to pass the message along to your friends.

A full-page ad from HumaneWatch.org, a watchdog project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), appeared in this Sunday’s New York Times, criticizing the recent claim of Wayne Pacelle, the President of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), that convicted dog abuser Michael Vick “would do a good job as a pet owner.” The ad condemns HSUS for supporting the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback’s ownership of dogs and urges all recurring HSUS donors to cancel their memberships and stop giving to the organization. The ad ran this past Sunday as the Eagles suited up against the Giants in the Meadowlands.

HumaneWatch.org points to the Eagles’ $50,000 donation to HSUS in 2010 as one possible motivation for Pacelle’s indefensible suggestion that Vick should be allowed to own more dogs. Despite the words “humane society” in its name, HSUS is not affiliated with local humane societies anywhere in America. It spends tens of millions every year supporting a staff of more than 700, lobbyists in all 50 states, and an $11 million executive pension plan. Yet during the past two years, HSUS shared less than 1 percent of its money with hands-on pet shelters.

“It’s absolutely shocking that the leader of America’s biggest animal rights group would side with a convicted dog fighting felon instead of with helpless pets,” said David Martosko, CCF’s Director of Research and the editor of HumaneWatch.org.

Within 24 hours of Michael Vick’s arrest for running a Virginia dog fighting ring, HSUS began raising money online to “care for the dogs seized” at Vick’s home. Wayne Pacelle later admitted to The New York Times that HSUS was not caring for the dogs. Pacelle also recommended that officials “put down” (kill) the animals. Despite HSUS’s wishes, most of those dogs have since been successfully rehabilitated.

The ad reads:

The Eagles wrote the Humane Society of the U.S. a GIANT check. Guess who now says Michael Vick can own a dog? The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has lost all credibility.

The Philadelphia Eagles made a $50,000 donation to HSUS this year. And now the animal rights group’s leader says Eagles’ quarterback Michael Vick should be allowed to own dogs again.

Michael Vick was a dog fighting kingpin. He went to federal prison for participating in the unbelievably cruel deaths of (at least) eight dogs. Encouraging him to own more animals makes as much sense as hiring a bank robber to be a security guard.

If you donate monthly to HSUS and you’re disgusted by the organization’s willingness to trade its principles for money, contact HSUS’s Membership Department at 1-866-720-2676 to cancel your pledge.

It’s critically important to support pet shelters in your own community, but HSUS isn’t affiliated with any real “humane societies.” Hands-on pet shelters typically share in less than 1% of the money HSUS raises.

Source: Dairy Herd Management

Dairy Snack Foods Market Grows

News EditorInternational, Markets

This is an interesting new study, and good news for dairy farmers. As consumers become even more time strapped, many are looking to dairy snack foods as a source of nutrition.

The international market for dairy snacks, such as cheese strings and yogurt tubes, grew by 7% in 2009 and is heading for a 6% rise this year. The first major study on this sector, by leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International, estimates total volume at 217,000 tonnes in 2010 across 26 countries in North America, Latin America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Currently, the majority of dairy snack products are cheese-based and targeted at children. In some countries, however, manufacturers are increasingly looking at innovations for adults. Although many dairy snacks are designed to be eaten on the move, some recent launches have been designed for at-home snacking, reflecting continuing changes in consumer eating habits.

Of the total dairy snack volume identified in 2009, the US accounted for almost two-thirds. The UK was the second largest market, with other key countries including France, Canada, Germany and Japan. The most developed regions are North America, West Europe and Australasia, with Latin America and East Europe presenting the next opportunities for companies to be first to market.

The most successful dairy snack products have come from leading international players in the overall dairy market, who command brand recognition and marketing power. Key players and brands include Bel with Mini Babybel, Kraft with Dairylea, and Yoplait yogurt tubes. In countries where dairy snacks have been available for longer and are more established, retailer private labels have been introduced, but these have yet to make a material impact.

“Dairy snacks, although a relatively recent phenomenon, have firmly established themselves as an important segment within both the dairy market and the wider market for snacks,” commented Zenith Market Analyst Laura Knight. “As modern on-the-go lifestyles have left consumers time poor, many people are increasingly looking for a convenient snack that delivers on health and nutrition, also one that tastes good and provides a pleasurable eating experience. Dairy snacks are well placed to meet these consumer demands and manufacturers have begun to capitalise on the opportunity this presents.”

Although dairy snacks are undeveloped as a snack segment, compared to more traditional snacking foods such as crisps and bars, it is clear that there is considerable long term potential for the market and Zenith expects the market to reach over 260,000 tonnes by 2014.

Source: Australian Food News

DBA Announce Board Members

News EditorCompany Announcement

Congratulations to the new elected and re-elected members of the Dairy Business Association (DBA) board of directors.

Two seats for dairy producers and one seat for a corporate member were up for election this year. John Pagel of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC was re-elected, Mike Gerrits of Country Aire Farms, LLC was elected for the first time and Mike North, a corporate member with First Capitol Ag, was also re-elected. All will serve a three year term.

At the new board’s first meeting on December 8, 2010 the first order of business was the selection of officers. The results are as follows.

Jerry Meissner, Norm-E-Lane, Inc – President
John Pagel, Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, LLC – Vice President
Greg Steele, AgStar Financial Services – Treasurer
Jen Keuning, Conestoga-Rovers & Associates, Inc (CRA) – Secretary

Source: The Dairy Business Association

Pfizer Offers Easy Milk Quality Resolutions

News EditorAnimal Health, Pfizer

Even dairy farmers need to set resolutions for the new year – make your resolutions help to improve cow health and profitability on the dairy. Milk quality resolutions that can help you capture greater return from your milking herd.

“There is always room for improvement when it comes to milk quality, and small steps taken today can reap rewards tomorrow through increased production, higher premiums and reduced labor and treatment costs,” says Dr. Bradley Mills, DVM, senior veterinarian, Pfizer Animal Health Dairy Veterinary Operations. “In addition, progressing your mastitis management is part of doing what’s best for the health of your cattle and dairy operation.”

Like any resolution, milk quality improvement efforts must become a way of life for everyone on the dairy. Dr. Mills offers these milk quality resolutions to help advance your mastitis management programs and produce higher-quality milk.

Keep better culture records.
Strive for complete cure.
Pay more attention to your dry cows
Increase parlor routine consistency
Work more closely with your veterinarian

By establishing milk quality goals now, you can set yourself up for successful mastitis management throughout the coming year. Visit our website for more milk quality resolution ideas and ways to improve your milk quality in the new year.

Source: Pfizer Animal Health

Looks Like Good Participation in Social Media According to ZimmPoll

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

Here are the results of our latest ZimmPoll. In answer to the question, “Do you participate in social media?” the majority say they do. According to the numbers, 53% say yes and they post regularly, 28% say yes but they rarely create their own posts, 27% say no and they never will and only 1% say no but plan to start participating soon. Thanks to all our poll takers. Quite a few more did in our second week!

It is possible, as has been pointed out to me, that our results might be skewed slightly since so much of this particular poll question is being seen by those who already participate in social media. I can see that. However, we have a lot of website visitors who I’m sure are not yet social media savvy.

The new poll is now live and the question is, “Do you think the general consumer perception of agriculture changed in 2010?” This should resonate since the whole topic of consumer perception of farming is so top of mind right now. In fact, it has given rise to new agricultural organization efforts like the USFRA and of course it is one of the goals of the AgChat Foundation to help consumers better understand where their food comes from and who is producing it and how. Can’t wait to see the results from this one!

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Cooperative Message Delivered to Ag Secretary

Cindy ZimmermanCompetition, DFA, usda

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently got a pile of postcards from Dairy Farmers of America members stressing the importance of cooperatives.

Delivery of the cooperative message was made by DFA members Lee Ramsburg of Gettysburg, Pa., (left) and David Crowl of Street, Md., (center) following the last in the series of workshops conducted this year by the USDA and the Department of Justice on competition in agriculture. That final workshop was held December 8 in Washington, DC.

The two DFA representatives delivered thousands of postcards signed by DFA members expressing support for their cooperative and the Capper-Volstead Act, also known as the Co-operative Marketing Associations Act of 1922 which allowed exemptions from antitrust laws for agricultural cooperatives. They also presented Vilsack with a petition signed by DFA employees describing the importance of cooperatives to the dairy industry.

Rector Joins Anerican Jersey

News EditorJersey Association

Congratulations to Katherine Ann Rector for her new position as the Advance Services Consultant for the American Jersey Cattle Association and National All-Jersey Inc. (USJersey).

In this newly created position, Rector will market and provide customer support nationwide for JerseyMate™, Jersey Link™ and Jersey Tags, plus serve as AJCA-NAJ Area Representative for the northwest region including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah. She will be based in the headquarters offices in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Rector graduated from California Polytechnic State University this past June with degrees in dairy science and agricultural business. A student employee for five years at the Cal Poly dairy, she served as head milker with responsibilities for scheduling and training new employees, managed Jersey animal ID, and worked daily with DHI Plus herd management and analysis software.

Kate was a member of the university’s Dairy Challenge team that earned a first-place Platinum award in 2010. While attending Cal Poly, she completed internships with the California Milk Advisory Board and Alta Genetics.

She received top 10 honors for four consecutive years in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest and received the Jack C. Nisbet Memorial Scholarship in 2009. Attending Hilmar High School, Kate earned Greenhand, Chapter, California and National FFA Degrees.

Source: The American Jersey Cattle Association

Yoplait to Purchase Liberte

News EditorYogurt

French yogurt company Yoplait has announced the acquisition of Quebec-based yogurt company Liberte.

The Quebec dairy product company, which posted $175 million in sales in 2009, has been owned by the U.S-based Swander Pace Capital private equity firm since 2003. It sells 90% of its products to the Canadian market and also exports to the U.S.

Financial details of the sale haven’t been released but Yoplait apparently won’t be cutting staff at the newly acquired company.

“Everyone here will stay,” said Liberte marketing director Frederique Delagrave. The company currently has some 560 employees, half of whom work in Quebec.

In a statement Wednesday, Yoplait said the acquisition was part of its international growth strategy.

“Fresh dairy products will have sustained growth, especially outside Europe and in new market segments, and we intend to position Yoplait accordingly,” said Yoplait president Lucien Fa.

Liberte, which has its head office in the Montreal region, is one of the leading Canadian producers and distributors of natural and organic yogurts. It also processes organic milk and goat milk in Quebec.

Yoplait is the world’s biggest yogurt producer after Danone. French private equity firm PAI recently announced it would sell its 50% stake in the company.

Source: Toronto Sun

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 17 requests for export assistance from Darigold, Foremost Farms, and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 1,308 metric tons (2.884 million pounds) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in the Middle East and Asia. The product will be delivered January 2011 through June 2011.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program in March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 34,411 metric tons (75.9 million pounds) to 26 countries on four continents. In addition, sales of butter and anhydrous milkfat totaling 14,968 metric tons (33.0 million pounds) have been made to nine countries on three continents.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term and long-term by helping member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.

CWT will pay 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)

Santa's Making a List of Survey Takers

Cindy ZimmermanCompany Announcement

Have you been a good little World Dairy Diary reader and taken our survey already? If so, Santa has you on his list and you could win $250 at the end of December!

We know that people hate giving out personal information on the internet, but we are asking so that we can improve our on-line publications by knowing who our readers are and what they want to know about. That’s why we are offering everyone who takes our survey the chance to win $250 cash money each month. We already sent a check to one lucky reader at the end of November – the next one will be pulled at the end of this month.

It only takes about three minutes to fill out the survey – World Dairy Diary Survey – so do it today and you will be on the list to win!