DMI Corrects Article's Inaccuracies

News EditorDairy Checkoff

Dairy Management Inc., the national dairy promotion program, has sent out the following statement in response to a recent article about their program. Be sure to share this message!

The New York Times and numerous media outlets this past week have inaccurately reported on the nation’s farmer-funded dairy promotion program. Much of the reporting is fundamentally wrong. Contrary to the myth that has been perpetuated, Dairy Management Inc. was not created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), nor is it an agency of USDA. It is a private, non-profit corporation created — and run — by America’s dairy farmers who established it to unify national and local dairy promotion efforts.

All of the programs created by Dairy Management Inc. to promote dairy consumption in the U.S. are paid for completely by America’s dairy farmers. No taxpayer dollars are used for our domestic marketing efforts. USDA does not contribute money to promote dairy products in the U.S. In fact, dairy farmers actually pay USDA for all of the costs to oversee the promotion program.

USDA performs a congressionally mandated oversight role over the collection and disbursement of dairy farmer’s funds, and to ensure that our programs are consistent with the law that set up the program.

America’s dairy farmers are proud of the nutritional contributions of milk and cheese to the U.S. diet and support the consumption of a balanced diet which includes room for all foods in moderation. The U.S. government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which call for the consumption of three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk products each day, are the cornerstone of Dairy Management’s nutrition guidance.

The 56,000 dairy farm families represented by Dairy Management welcome and encourage people to learn more about the important dietary role of dairy in supplying nine key nutrients necessary for healthy bodies and welcome inquiries about their efforts to promote increased dairy consumption so that Americans get their three servings of dairy a day.

Efforts to misrepresent this program, and the federal government’s role in administering the program, are an unfortunate and unacceptable assault on the hard work and dedication of America’s dairy farmers.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 11 requests for export assistance from Foremost Farms, Darigold, and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 825 metric tons (1.8 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in South America, the Middle East, and Asia. The product will be delivered November 2010 through December 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 30,169 metric tons (66.5 million pounds) to 25 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. Nearly 50% of the product will be delivered between now and April 2011.

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)

New Look for Checkoff Site

News EditorDairy Checkoff

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the national dairy checkoff organization, announces a new checkoff resource website for dairy farmers.

The website has enhanced photos and graphics to help deliver the latest news on how farmers’ investment is working to grow sales of U.S. dairy products. Before its launch, producers had an opportunity to provide input about the site’s redesign during the recent World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.

“The redesign reaches an exciting new level of appearance and user engagement, which is critical in today’s ever-changing cyber world,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “We received positive responses and feedback from producers that was useful to our redesign efforts. We look forward to seeing more traffic coming through the site and producers making use of this great checkoff resource.”

Producers visiting the site will see more easy-to-follow links to dairy farmer image programs, such as “Telling Your Story” that helps producers become active industry spokespersons in their communities.

There is current news about checkoff-led initiatives such as Fuel Up to Play 60 that aims to improve health and wellness levels among students across the country through a partnership with the NFL and USDA. Producers also can find information about how the dairy checkoff is making strides to build demand for U.S.-produced dairy products through strategic partnerships with companies such as McDonald’s and Domino’s.

The site includes contact information for local checkoff offices, plus a list of industry meetings being held across the country, including those where checkoff staff will be present to talk about the program’s strategy and direction.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Fonterra to Boost China Exports

News EditorExport

Fonterra Cooperative Group Ltd. the world’s largest dairy exporter, plans to boost its investments in farms and plants in China to benefit from surging demand.

“Expect to see us investing in multiple farms in different percentages and ultimately investing in processing facilities of one type or another,” Andrew Ferrier, chief executive officer of the Auckland-based company, said in an interview.

Fonterra, with NZ$16.7 billion ($13 billion) in annual sales, is seeking to rebuild its business in China after a melamine contamination in 2008 killed at least six infants and caused the collapse of its local partner Sanlu Group. The company, which opened a farm in Hebei province in 2007, said last month it will invest NZ$42 million in a second.

“You’re seeing number two within a year and, assuming it goes well, we’d be looking at number three coming in closely behind it,” Ferrier said yesterday. “We see China as a market which will be served by Fonterra both with safe Chinese milk, that will be our value proposition, and New Zealand milk.”

Fonterra accounts for about 40 percent of global trade in butter, milk powder and cheese, and has sales in 140 countries. China’s imports of whole milk powder rose almost fourfold in 2009 to 176,000 metric tons, representing about 12 percent of the trade, according to an Australian government report.

“If there’s going to be a softening in dairy prices, it’s more likely to come in calendar 2011 driven by, for the most part, higher production out of the U.S.,” he said. “We see a scenario where U.S. production is stronger, more product hits the market and prices soften a little bit.”

U.S. milk production climbed 3.3 percent in September from a year earlier to 15.53 billion pounds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in an Oct. 19 report. Average prices of all products at Fonterra’s fortnightly GlobalDairyTrade auction have gained 6 percent in 2010. Whole milk powder reached a 21-month high of $4,092 a ton in April before slumping 29 percent to $2,917 in August.

The U.S. “is one of the more logical markets to help fuel growing Asian demand” and will increase its exports to Asia as the region’s demand outstrips New Zealand and Australia’s ability to supply consumers, Ferrier said. New Zealand may also see demand for its product from traditional markets decrease as more milk is exported to Asian countries, including China, Indonesia and Vietnam, he said.

“As time goes on, markets that we have traditionally been in that are further afield will become less served with New Zealand product and more served with other product,” he said. “Mexico has traditionally bought quite a bit of New Zealand milk and they’re increasingly buying American milk and that’s a natural change in flow.”

Source: Bloomberg

Syngenta Receives Award

News EditorForage

Congratulations to Syngenta Seeds, Inc.’s 8688GT brand corn hybrid for its recent Grand Champion First Time Entrant title from the 27th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl.

The 8688GET brand from its Garst® brand recently earned Tony Pecha of Bloomer, Wis., the title of Grand Champion First Time Entrant in the Corn Silage Division at the 27th annual World Forage Analysis Superbowl held during the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis. With his first-ever entry into the contest, Pecha posted a final score of 95.2 out of 100 possible. Additionally, Syngenta had a total of four top-five alfalfa finishers in this year’s Superbowl – the most of any alfalfa brand.

“We are very pleased with our showing of top-performing corn silage and alfalfa winners at this year’s World Forage Analysis Superbowl and would like to congratulate Tony on his first place finish,” said Brian Walsh, corn product manager at Syngenta Seeds, Inc. “The number of finalists hailing from varying geographies is strong proof that Syngenta’s advanced technologies and superior genetics can meet customers’ individual needs and challenges wherever they farm.”

Growers using Syngenta alfalfa products placed in the top five in the Dairy Hay, Commercial Hay and Dairy Haylage divisions. Top contenders in the Dairy Hay class included Randall Geiger of Reedsville, Wis., and returning finalists Karl and Barb Wogsland of Scandinavia, Wis. Commercial Hay included finalists David Hinman of Wheatland, Wyo. and Gen Art Hillcrest Dairy, St. Cloud, Wis., who also had a top-five finish in the Dairy Haylage division.

The Grand Champion First Time Entrant 8688GT brand corn silage hybrid from Garst is the Agrisure® GT refuge version of 86T82-3000GT brand, a high volume, elite, 105-day, dual-purpose, grain/silage hybrid. The Agrisure® 3000GT triple stack provides the ultimate in yield protection and the flexibility to choose management practices that meet individual needs.

The World Forage Analysis Superbowl was organized in conjunction with AgSource Laboratories, DairyBusiness Communications, Hay & Forage Grower, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center, the University of Wisconsin and World Dairy Expo.

Source: Syngenta

Pa. Forums Offer Learning Opportunities

News EditorEducation

Register now for the 2010 Pennsylvania Dairy Profitability Forums, Nov. 16 and 17, “Healthy Families, Healthy Farms and Healthy Businesses”. the annual event is hosted by the Center for Dairy Excellence and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

The forum on Tuesday, Nov. 16, will be in the PA Preferred Banquet Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg. Wednesday, Nov. 17, the event will be held at the Clarks Mills United Methodist Church, located along PA Route 358, two miles west of Interstate 79, Exit 130. Both forums will run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Dr. Wayne Weiland, regional manager for Standard Dairy Consulting in Holcombe, Wis., will lead the discussion “Key Essentials for Future Success on Any Dairy Farm” at both meetings. He grew up on a dairy farm and worked 10 years in a private veterinary practice before joining the consulting firm in 2007. Weiland has worked to develop a new generation of dairy consultants, coaching people on business development, integrity selling and on-farm technical services.

During both forums, Mike McGrann, executive director of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College, will lead a discussion on “healthy farms and healthy families.” His program, “Critical Principals for Long-Term Success of Your Family Business,” is part of the resources offered through the business center.

Three young dairy producers, members of the AgBiz Masters Program, will participate in a panel discussion to share how they applied the program’s information to identify best management practices to improve their dairy operations. The panel discussion will be held during each profit forum luncheon.

Breakout sessions will focus on improving internal herd growth through optimal calf and heifer care, understanding cost of production and business budgeting, developing a marketing plan, and improving milk quality. Participants can choose to attend two of the four breakout sessions at both forums.

Registration is now open online for both dairy profitability forums or contact 717-346-0849.

Source: Center for Dairy Excellence

Brooks Promoted at NMPF

News EditorCompany Announcement

Congratulations to Dana L. Brooks for her promotion to Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). Brooks, who has worked for NMPF for nearly two years, had been serving as VP of Government Relations.

“Dana’s passion for agriculture and energetic personality continue to enhance our capabilities to deal on Capitol Hill with the numerous challenges facing our cooperatives and dairy producers,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, to whom Brooks reports.

Brooks previously worked in Washington as a legislative assistant for two members of Congress: Rep. Marion Berry (D-AR), and later, Rep. JoAnn Emerson (R-MO). After her legislative positions on Capitol Hill, Brooks served as Director of Congressional Relations for the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, DC. Brooks most recently worked on national policy issues at the Florida Farm Bureau in Gainesville, FL.

During Brooks’ tenure at NMPF, she has helped focus attention in Congress on the economic crisis that affected dairy farmers in 2009, while also helping to shepherd dairy-friendly provisions into the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill. She also worked in 2010 to ensure that the mandatory, electronic reporting of dairy prices was signed into law.

Source: National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)

A Rumen With a View

Cindy ZimmermanNovus International, Research, Video

novus green acres“Everybody that comes out here wants to know about the steers with the windows,” according to Skip Hampton, manager of product research for Novus International.

Skip is also the manager of Novus’ new research facility Green Acres Farm in Montgomery County, Missouri. He says the Holstein steers are used for research trials to study rumen bypass – how an ingredient is degraded or protected in the rumen. To do so, they surgically implant a window into the rumen. “The port doesn’t hurt them and we can pop the center out of there and put products in that we want to test,” he said.

“Their feed consumption is just about the same as a lactating dairy cow,” Skip explains. “So, the idea is to use those as a model for a lactating dairy cow and we can look at a lot of different product concepts through the steers.”

Skip says the steers are much easier to handle and are really just like big dogs. “These guys are probably about 1300 pounds right now and they’re like a bunch of big German Shepherds.”

Skip talks about the steers in this video.

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 10 requests for export assistance from Foremost Farms, Darigold, and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 1,089 metric tons (2.4 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in the Middle East and Asia. The product will be delivered November 2010 through March 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 29,344 metric tons (64.7 million pounds) to 23 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 in the long-term by helping member cooperatives to 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)

Write Down What You Wish To Achieve

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio

Proving once again that he’s following in the foot steps of that “other” Dr. Lyons, Dr. Mark Lyons made concluding remarks in grand fashion at the Alltech Global 500.

After providing an overview of Alltech innovations with Dr. Karl Dawson during the final session of the conference Mark encouraged the participants to “Think it, Ink it.” He said they should write down at least five things they were taking away from the event that could then take action on when they got home. How many times to you hear something and wish you’d made a note of it?

You can listen to Mark’s closing comment here: Dr. Mark Lyons Closing Comment

Alltech Global 500 Photo Album