Milk Better in Study

News EditorMilk

In what is viewed as the first scientific study to explore nutrient profiles related to greenhouse gas emissions in the production life cycle of various beverages, a Swedish study establishes the relation of beverage nutrient density to climate impact and indicates that milk performed better than other beverages. A research team from Uppsala in Sweden and Seattle in the United States developed the new Nutrient Density to Climate Impact (NDCI) Index to compare beverages within this broader context.

“This study helps support the importance of bringing nutrient density to the discussion as the carbon footprint of beverages and foods is examined,” said Dr. Greg Miller, president of the Dairy Research Institute.

In the Swedish study, the NDCI for milk was 0.54 for milk, compared to 0.25 for soy drink and 0.28 for orange juice. Beverages with the highest index value had the highest nutrient density scores in relation to GHG emissions. Carbonated water, soft drinks and beer all scored zero due to their low nutritional value, while red wine and oat drink scored below 0.1.

He cautioned that this nutrient density — climate index research is a single study specific to the production and nutrient content of milk and other beverages in Sweden, and that while the results are not necessarily transferrable to other countries, the study was positive for dairy.

Miller indicated that this work builds upon previous research conducted in the U.S., which was funded by dairy farmers through the National Dairy Council (NDC) to demonstrate the nutrient richness of dairy foods. Milk is America’s No. 1 source of calcium, potassium and vitamin D in the diet, and provides six other essential nutrients. NDC helped support the development of the Nutrient Rich Foods (NRF) Index — a scientifically valid definition of nutrient density that takes into account the total nutritional quality of a food or beverage. The NRF Index (published in the August 2009, issue of the Journal of Nutrition2) was created to help people have healthier diets by choosing more nutrient-rich foods from all food groups.

He added that extensive consumer research indicates that people want to believe that dairy products can be part of a lifestyle that promotes health and nutrition, benefits communities and protects the environment. To this end, he pointed to U.S. dairy industry efforts to better understand and improve environmental and nutritional impact, including ongoing life cycle assessments (LCAs) from farm to table,
and environmental and human nutrition research being conducted on behalf of The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

Given dairy’s longstanding commitment to sound science, Miller expects additional research to be conducted to further advance the dairy industry’s scientific insights in the areas of nutrition and environment, and the links between them.

Source: Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

International Cheese to Meet in Miami

News EditorCheese

The First International Festival of Artisan Cheese will be held in Miami March 18-20, 2011. The Cheese Connection will be an unparalleled event in South Florida, welcoming more than 18 thousand lovers of cheese and of its culinary possibilities.

The Cheese Connection will gather at the new Miami Airport Convention Center, more than 340 artisan cheese producers from 45 countries, together with industry executives, restaurant owners, cruise lines, hotel corporations, delicatessen shops, distributors, connoisseurs, renowned chefs, celebrities, and speakers. All united for the same passion: cheese.

Justo Vera-Ayestaran, creator of the Festival and President of The Cheese Connection, LLC said: “The Festival will include “The School of Cheese”, an ensemble of seminars and workshops where attendees can learn about cheese types, appellations, aging, combinations with beer and wine, etc. Visitors will be able to sample new tastes, attend cheese making demonstrations, learn gourmet recipes, enjoy artist performances, and attend international culinary competitions.

Vera, a Cheese Master from the New York Artisanal Premium Cheese Center, stated: “We are convinced that it’s a great time for cheese in the US. Finally, American palates have acquired the taste for specialty cheeses that, until recently, were only sought by a niche market. Consumers have discovered the quality of Artisan Cheeses, such as the silkiness of a good Manchego, the taste of aged Parmesan, and the creamy texture of Brie.” His objective is “to replicate the success story of gourmet coffee in the US, and assist in making Artisan Cheeses a household staple and as popular as in European countries.”

The Marketing Manager of the company, Eduardo Alarcon, stated: “Our Trade Show will become the most important Artisan Cheese Show in southern US, the Caribbean, and Latin America. It’s a great opportunity for producers to showcase or launch new cheeses, increase sales, brand awareness, and reach new markets.”

Source: the Cheese Connection, LLC

New Tool for Farmers Available

News EditorGeneral

A new tool for dairy farmers in now available through the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

The self-certification template tool assists dairy producers in developing Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans that covers all fuel and oil storage on the farm. The template, developed with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is available on the NMPF website.

“Dairy farmers want to do the right thing on environmental regulations, but in many cases lack readily available tools to assist with the complex regulations,” said Shawn Reiersgaard, Chair NMPF Environmental Issues Task Force. “The SPCC template provides dairy producers with a valuable tool to successfully implement SPCC plans on their farms and continue to be excellent stewards of our environmental resources.” The template was unveiled at the NMPF Environmental Issues Task Force meeting yesterday in Rosemont, IL.

The goal of the SPCC program is to prevent oil spills into waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines. A key element of the program calls for farmers and other facilities to have an oil spill prevention plan, called an SPCC plan. The SPCC plans are required for farms which have an aggregate storage capacity of oil products of 1320 gallons, or more, counting every storage container larger than 55 gallons. A farm with less than 10,000 gallons of total storage capacity and no single storage greater than 5,000 gallons can self-certify its SPCC plan.

Farms that do not meet this exemption must have a plan certified by a professional engineer. In August, EPA proposed to extend the compliance deadline for the bulk milk storage requirements until the SPCC exemption for bulk milk storage is finalized. Dairy producers are still required to comply with SPCC regulations for all other fuel and oil storage.

Source: National Milk Producers Federation

Study Finds Dairy Only 2% of Total Emissions

News EditorDairy Checkoff, energy, sustainability

The U.S. dairy industry announced today that it has completed a carbon footprint study that measured the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a gallon of milk in the United States. The carbon footprint study, together with data from additional studies measuring GHG emissions, helps validate that total U.S. dairy GHG emissions are approximately 2 percent of total U.S. emissions. This is far less than earlier figures reported about the global livestock industry that were incorrectly attributed to U.S. dairy.

Researchers followed the journey of a gallon of milk from the beginning of the life cycle when crops are grown to feed cows; milk is produced and delivered to processors; through processing, packaging and distribution; all the way to the purchase and disposal of the gallon of milk by the consumer. The completion of the study is a significant first step for the dairy industry in a comprehensive, science-based approach to measure and improve its environmental footprint.

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy commissioned the Applied Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas to conduct the GHG LCA of fluid milk, also called the carbon footprint study. Dr. Greg Thoma, professor of chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas and lead investigator of the study, will present the findings tomorrow at the International Food LCA Conference.

The carbon footprint study identifies opportunities for efficiency and innovation across the fluid milk supply chain, including feed efficiency, manure management, energy management and fuel efficiency. A key finding indicates that management practices are an important driver of the carbon footprint for farms, plants and transportation fleets, rather than the geographic region, business model, or size of the farm or organization.

Dairy businesses across the country are already making changes that are environmentally and economically beneficial. The Innovation Center has collected a variety of success stories, case studies and best practices, providing a platform for industry partners to learn from one another and make informed decisions that suit their unique needs.

The carbon footprint study will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal in 2011. In addition, studies on nutritional value, economic impact and other environmental measures such as water quality and conservation are under way as the industry seeks more ways to work together for a healthy planet.

Complete press release here.
Source: Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

DFA Patronage Checks Mailed

News EditorGeneral

Dairy farmers who market their milk through Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) should expect to receive their cooperative patronage checks this week.

DFA’s members who marketed their milk with the company in 2009 will receive a total of $26.4 million, with $7.6 million distributed in cash and the balance allocated to members’ equity accounts.

Patronage is the Cooperative’s way of sharing DFA’s earnings with its members. The amount of patronage a member receives each year is based on the amount of member milk marketed through the Cooperative. This allocation is equal to 7 cents per hundredweight of milk marketed in 2009.

In keeping with DFA’s base capital plan, members who have achieved the established base capital level will receive 100 percent of their share of earnings in cash. Those who have not will receive a portion of their earnings in cash, with the balance added to their capital accounts.

“Annual patronage payments are a special benefit of Cooperative membership,” said Randy Mooney, DFA Board chairman. “Beyond milk marketing activities and services that help our farmer owners improve their bottom line, patronage checks are one more important way that DFA delivers value to its members.”

Combined with special payments totaling $18.3 million in July and October 2009 to help offset economic hardships, DFA members’ total 2009 cash earnings were $25.9 million.

Source: Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.

Buske New ANIMART Associate

News EditorCompany Announcement

Congratulations to Kayla Buske, the new ANIMART, Inc. marketing associate of the large animal dairy and livestock division.

Buske recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and will be responsible for assisting with dairy and livestock marketing and communications. As marketing associate, she will also support the efforts to introduce new products to the ANIMART sales team and ANIMART customer base.

Buske has been exposed to the dairy industry for many years through working on her family farm, being employed by other area farms, and through showing cattle at local, state and national shows. She broadened her knowledge of production agriculture by interning at East Central/Select Sires, the UW-Madison Department of Dairy Science, and at Hoard’s Dairyman.

On the UW-Madison campus, she was active in Badger Dairy Club, National Agri-Marketing Association, Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority, and on the Intercollegiate Dairy Cattle Judging Team where she earned All-American honors at the National contest this past fall.

Source: ANIMART, Inc.

Milking Parlor: World Dairy Expo Preview

John DavisAlpharma, Charleston-Orwig, Milking Parlor, Novus International, Podcast, The Milking Parlor, World Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo is just around the corner, taking place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, Sept 28th – Oct. 2nd.

Lisa Behnke is the marketing Manager for the expo, celebrating its 44th anniversary this year. She promises the event will be bigger and better than ever.

“We have a tremendous dairy trade show, the world’s largest. We expect to have more than 775 exhibitors from 26 different countries, demonstrating the latest and greatest wares you can possibly implement on your own dairy.”

With the theme “Crowning Achievements – Golden Opportunities,” Behnke says some of the new technology on display at World Dairy Expo will include new ideas designed to help the environment, as well as those hard-working dairy farmers.

While it’s a must-attend event for those in the dairy industry, Behnke understands there will be plenty of busy dairy farmers who just won’t be able to get time away from their herds to make it. That’s no problem. She points out that there will be more than 200 journalists from around the country and around the globe, covering the event. Among those is our own Cindy Zimmerman, who will be providing up-to-the-minute updates on this website, as well as AgWired.com, the WDD Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/animalagnews) and her own Twitter account (@FarmPodcaster). Thanks to our sponsors of the coverage: Novus International, Charleston-Orwig, Arm & Hammer, Novartis and Alpharma.

Listen to or download the podcast here:
Milking Parlor Podcast with Lisa Behnke, World Dairy Expo

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here.

The Milking Parlor podcast is sponsored by:
Novus

Get Your How to Build a Healthy Kid Guide

News EditorEducation

A partnership between dairy producers, through the checkoff-funded National Dairy Council® and Newsweek, has led to the distribution of more than 1 million copies of the “How to Build a Healthy Kid” back-to-school guidebook.

Multiple copies of the guidebook, developed and produced by Newsweek at no additional cost to dairy producers, will be included in information being distributed to more than 60,000 schools participating in NDC’s Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP60) program this fall. FUTP60 is a collaborative in-school effort with the National Football League® that encourages the consumption and availability of nutrient-rich foods, including low-fat and fat-free dairy, along with 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

National and local dairy checkoff organizations will use remaining copies of the guidebook as a tool to help engage additional partners and resources among health professionals, local school officials, and community leaders. FUTP60 is heavily emphasized in the guidebook which includes strong messages of support from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and former Surgeon General David Satcher. NDC provided:
• FUTP60 success stories that showcase nutrition and physical activity
• A health and nutrition advertorial that highlights the benefits of flavored milk , supported by leading health professional organizations
• A pledge of support for school-based initiatives such as FUTP60 from various health and nutrition organizations, including the American Dietetic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Family Physicians, and School Nutrition Association

“This guidebook is unprecedented for the dairy checkoff in gaining third-party support for our in-school program,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy producer and chair of Dairy Management Inc.™, which manages the national dairy checkoff. “Working with Newsweekto produce a high-quality educational tool speaks volumes about the acceptance and impact of Fuel Up to Play 60. This effort will make a difference in the lives of students, while reinforcing a positive view of dairy through credible, independent sources.”

Source: Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI)

Pfizer Introduces New Genomic Test

News EditorGenetics

CLARIFIDETM, a new genomic test for comprehensive evaluation of dairy females, is now available from Pfizer Animal Genetics, a business unit of Pfizer Animal Health.

CLARIFIDE is a 3,000-marker (3K) DNA panel that was developed through collaboration between USDA-ARS and Illumina. CLARIFIDE delivers Genomic Predicted Transmitting Ability (GPTA) values for 30 production, health and type traits, and nine composite indexes. These predictions provide insights into animals’ future genetic potential early in an animal’s life.

“CLARIFIDE provides a cost-effective way for commercial dairy producers to take advantage of the many benefits of genomic testing,” says Nigel Evans, vice president of Pfizer Animal Genetics. “Genomics has been available in the dairy industry for the past few years, but has only been practical for a small number of elite animals. CLARIFIDE now puts genomic testing into the hands of commercial dairymen.”

With CLARIFIDE, commercial dairy producers can optimize selection, mating and management of Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss females. Dairy producers can identify the females — along with their daughters — that will be the genetic future of their herds.

Pfizer Animal Genetics has implemented CLARIFIDE in partnership with several commercial dairies from across the United States to demonstrate the value of the new tool in real-world situations. In addition, Pfizer Animal Genetics worked with the USDA Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory (AIPL) to transform the results of genetic evaluations into knowledge via customer tools and expertise to enhance on-farm application and decision-making. All of this, coupled with the fact that CLARIFIDE provides exceptional reliability in predicting genetic potential when compared with traditional Predicted Transmitting Abilities (PTA), make it a powerful tool for dairy producers.

To maximize the benefits of CLARIFIDE™, Mike Layfield, group director, U.S. Dairy Business, Pfizer Animal Health, suggests that producers start by evaluating replacement heifers prior to breeding.

Source: Pfizer Animal Genetics

CWT Weekly Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted a request from Darigold for assistance in selling 115 MT (253,532 pounds) of American cheese to a customer in Asia. The product will be delivered in September and October 2010.

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 19,962 metric tons (44.0 million pounds) to 23 countries on four continents. In addition, sales of butter and anhydrous milkfat totaling 15,018 metric tons (33.1 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)