DFA Earns Community Award

News EditorCompany Announcement

Congratulations to Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) for being named the 2010 Corporate Spark of Hope award winner by the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas.

John Stephens, chief operating officer for consumer brands within DFA’s Global Dairy Products Group, accepted the award at a special event June 24 in Fayetteville, Ark., where the fund’s 2010 scholarship winners also were introduced.

“Community involvement is an important value at DFA,” said Stephens. “We believe deeply in serving, leading and educating in the communities where we live and operate, and we are proud to invest in the future of these deserving scholarship recipients.”

The Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas was established in 1984, as a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping single parents accomplish their educational goals and create a better future for their children. The organization provided $300,000 in scholarships in 2009. Scholarships are funded entirely by donations from individuals, local businesses, civic and community groups, churches and private foundations.

Past Spark of Hope honorees include Walmart, Dean Foods Dairy Group, Birds Eye Foods and Hiland Dairy, among others.

Source: Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

Cash cheese strengthened in the shortened 4th of July holiday week. The blocks closed that Friday at the year high $1.5275 per pound, up 7 1/4-cents on the week, and 43 3/4-cents above that week a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.50, up 10 cents, and 41 cents above a year ago. Only one car of block traded hands on the week and one of barrel. The lagging NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price slipped 0.4 cent, hitting $1.4025. Barrel averaged $1.4007, up 1.2 cents.

Butter closed at $1.7625, up 1 1/4-cents on the week, and 54 cents above a year ago. Nothing was traded all week. NASS butter averaged $1.7014, up 5.4 cents.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed the week at $1.21, down 2 cents, and Extra Grade closed at $1.23, down 1 1/2-cents. NASS powder averaged $1.2816, up 6.6 cents, and dry whey averaged 37.27 cents, up 0.9 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Cows Compete For Baileys Title

News EditorInternational

All across the world, dairy farmers are leading their finest dairy cows across the show ring tanbark. But, what does a blue ribbon compare to being crowned the 2010 Baileys® Irish Champion Cow?

The dairy cow contest is sponsored Baileys® Irish Cream in Dublin. Over 20 groomed and pampered ‘cowtestants’ from all over the island of Ireland will wear their county sashes with pride as they parade in front of the judges at the Virginia Show, in County Cavan on July 31 for the title. Superior milk production is a must for short-listing but final judgment on the day will be on looks alone with marks going for shapely legs, an elegant neck, good-shaped back and well proportioned udders.

For dairy breeders, winning ‘the Baileys®’ is like having a horse win at the Grand National. Widely acknowledged in agricultural circles as the most prestigious dairy livestock event in Ireland and Britain, this is of course serious stuff for the dairy breeders.

“Never mind the World Cup, the only cup the entrants will be interested in winning this summer will be our Virginia Milk Products Cup! quipped Competition Director Brendan Smyth, “because for dairy cow breeders, winning ‘the Baileys®’ is like having a horse win at the Grand National.”

275 million litres of milk per year from over 35,000 Irish cows across 1,400 farms is needed to make Baileys®. Together, they contribute to the 2,300 glasses of Baileys® that are drunk every minute of every day across 130 countries and this prestigious event is only open to the best bred ‘supermilkers’ amongst them, that is cows producing over 11,000 litres of milk a year. For all their hard work in the making of Baileys’ quality cream ingredient, it makes perfect sense that the world’s no. 1 liqueur should recognize and reward the queen of them all.

Source: PRWEB

Pfizer Focus on Milk Quality

Cindy ZimmermanHealth, Pfizer

pfizerPfizer Animal Health has launched a new online resource — www.milkqualityfocus.com — offering technical and actionable information on mastitis management and milk quality.

“We understand the challenges dairy producers face and the constant commitment they must have to manage mastitis and produce high-quality milk,” says Dr. Bradley Mills, DVM, Veterinary Operations, Pfizer Animal Health. “With more stringent European Union somatic cell count (SCC) standards on the way, Milk Quality Focus will provide a timely and valuable source of technical, practical and easy-to-use information on mastitis and milk quality.”

Each month, Milk Quality Focus will feature video perspectives from industry experts, veterinarians, dairy producers and processors on a new topic that incorporates the most recent research and efficacy data on mastitis therapies; practical and easy-to-implement advice on mastitis management; and insight on ways to improve milk quality and increase productivity.

pfizerThe video series currently posted explores dry cow mastitis therapies. Future videos will highlight benefits of extended therapy and broad-spectrum treatment, how milk quality impacts the bottom line, the incidence and management of coliform mastitis, positive impacts of a structured milk quality management plan, and the milk quality supply chain.

Pfizer advises dairy producers to use Milk Quality Focus as a starting point for discussions with their veterinarian or animal health representative about improving their mastitis management program.

International Participation at Dairy Solutions Symposium

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Audio, Dairy Solutions Symposium, International

Alltech Dairy Solutions SymposiumInstead of listening to presenters from the Dairy Solutions Symposium, sponsored by Alltech, let’s hear from some of the participants. I spoke with many of them but only interviewed four. I think they give you a pretty good sense of how international this conference is.

Let’s start with Georgios Valergakis, Greece. He attended since he thinks we live in an “era of efficiency” and believed this type of gathering would be very useful. I asked him if the economic problems we hear about in Greece translate to the dairy industry but he says that it “is not that bad.”Georgios Valergakis Interview

Next up we have Johann Gasteiner from Austria. Johann was interested in nutritional disorders and the topic of SARA brought him to the symposium. He says it’s a big topic and “everywhere.” Johann Gasteiner Interview

Another participant was Christof Fry from Germany. He works at a feed mill so it was interesting to hear that he was attending to find new ideas to improve the products his company offers to their customers. He says the information he collects will be helpful in the long run for his business. Christof Fry Interview

And finally I spoke with Uldis Ositis, Latvia. He says the symposium has provided him with the information he was looking for. He found the presentations to be at a very high scientific level. Uldis Ositis Interview

Dairy Solutions Symposium 2010 Photo Album

Apply for DHIA Scholarship

News EditorEducation

Are you, or will you be a two-year or four-year college student, whose family’s dairy is a member or employee of DHI? Then, you are eligible to apply for National Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) scholarship. National DHIA will award approximately 20 $750 scholarships. Generous contributions from National DHIA members, friends and supporters help fund these scholarships.

To be eligible for a National DHIA scholarship, the applicant must be a family member or employee of a herd on DHI test, a family member of a DHI employee, or an employee of a DHI affiliate. The DHI affiliate for the herd or affiliate employee must be a member of National DHIA. (Arizona DHIA, Dairy Lab Services, Dairy One Cooperative Inc., DHI Cooperative Inc., Idaho DHIA, Indiana State Dairy Association, Lancaster DHIA, Louisiana DHIA, Minnesota DHIA, NorthStar Cooperative DHI Services, Puerto Rico DHIA, Rocky Mountain DHIA, San Joaquin DHIA, Southeast DHIA, Tennessee DHIA, Texas DHIA, United Federation of DHIAs, Vermont DHIA and Washington State DHIA are National DHIA members.)

Judges will evaluate applicants based on scholastic achievements and leadership in school and community activities. Applications are due Oct. 15, 2010. Recipients will be announced at the 2011 National DHIA annual meeting, being held March 16-17, in New Orleans.

To apply for a National DHIA scholarship, log on to the website and download and complete the electronic application form.

Source: National Dairy Herd Information Association

CWT Announces Herd Retirement Numbers

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together announced today that it has tentatively accepted 194 bids its latest herd retirement, representing 34,442 cows and 653,893,409 million pounds of milk. Farmers had submitted a total of 209 herd retirement bids to CWT.

CWT’s three herd retirements last year were the primary reason why U.S. cow numbers dropped steeply in 2009, “but cow numbers have leveled off since the end of the year,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, which administers CWT. “This latest herd retirement will push cow numbers lower still, which is what our industry needs to better align supply and demand.”

Starting next week, CWT farm auditors will begin visiting the farms whose bids were accepted, checking their milk production records, counting cows, and then tagging each cow for processing. All farmers will be notified no later than July 30th as to whether their bid was among those accepted in this herd retirement round, the tenth that CWT has conducted since 2003.

Once CWT auditors approve the herds accepted during the bid process, farmers have 15 days in which to send their animals to a processing plant. CWT will again provide each farmer the NMPF animal handling guidelines for the proper culling and transporting of dairy cattle, Kozak said.

Producers whose bids are accepted in this herd retirement will be paid in two installments: 90% of the amount bid times the producer’s 12 months of milk production when it is verified that that all cows have gone to slaughter, and the remaining 10% plus interest at the end of 12 months following the farm audit, if both the producer and his dairy facility – whether owned or leased – do not become involved in the commercial production and marketing of milk during that period.

In CWT’s three herd retirements conducted in 2009, the program removed a total of 200,000 cows and four billion pounds of milk. Details of past herd retirements can be found here.

Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)

Get Your Camera Ready for Got Milk?

News Editorgot milk?

Have you every dreamed of starring in a “got milk?®” ad? Then, this is your chance! Grab your camera and your family, and submit a photo that represents the perfect Nabisco Cookie and milk moment to be featured in your very own “got milk?®” ad!

There is nothing quite like the time-honored pairing of Oreo Cookies and milk or as iconic as the National Milk Mustache “got milk?” campaign, so Nabisco Cookies and milk have joined together to give one lucky family a starring role in their very own milk mustache ad.

Now through July 15, 2010, fans can visit the Facebook page to submit a photo and caption that represent the perfect Nabisco Cookie and milk moment. The winner’s family will participate in a professional photo shoot for the ad. The ad will appear in Kraft’s Food & Family magazine in 2010.

Photo entries must include any Nabisco Cookie product and a glass of milk, no more than one glass per person in the photo. Once submitted, the photos will become part of the Nabisco Cookies & got milk? Family Photo Album on the Facebook page. There, visitors and fans can view Nabisco Cookies and milk moments from families across the country.

The Nabisco family of cookies includes family favorites like Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Nutter Butter, Fig Newtons and Nilla Wafers. When pairing Nabisco Cookies with a glass of low fat milk, families enjoy a great-tasting snack, along with the added benefit of nine essential nutrients in milk that everyone needs. And dunking an Oreo into a cold glass of milk creates a special family moment that brings everyone together.

SOURCE: Kraft Foods; National Milk Mustache “got milk?”(R) Campaign

Barry 2010 Ill. Dairy Princess

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Education

Congratulations to Kari Barry who was crowned the 2010 Western Illinois Dairy Princess on June 24. The pageant marked the Western Illinois Dairy Council’s 55th annual promotion banquet.

The Western Illinois Dairy Princess, and the banquet that serves as a backdrop for the ceremony where she is named, has been a tradition since 1955. Barry, the newest title-holder, will participate in promoting wholesome and nutrient-rich milk products, riding in parades, helping with dairy judging activities, speaking at dinners and working milk shake stands at county fairs.

The contestants were judged on an interview and prepared speech.

Barry, the daughter of Rick and Kris Barry, of Liberty, Ill., will be a junior at Liberty High School this fall, where she is involved with basketball, volleyball, FFA, 4-H, SAA, Science Club, Spanish Club and the student council. Barry has helped on her family farm since she was young, milking, feeding calves, scooping grain, and baling hay and straw. Barry also helps on her grandparents’ farm near Liberty.

The banquet also honored the Gene and Lorrie Klauser family, which was presented with the Heritage Farm Award. The Klauser family has been milking since 1972, always as their family farm. One of the children remembered “sitting at the side of the bulk tank on a bucket eating an egg and cheese sandwich with a glass of milk.” The Klausers raised 10 children and currently have 21 grandchildren with two more expected this fall. They’ve been married for 40 years. The Klausers milk about 100 cows with an equal number of young stock, owning about 890 acres near Liberty.

Source: Midwest Dairy Association