Dairyline Markets In Review

News EditorDairyline, Markets

Dairyline Markets In Review

Cash cheese prices headed south in the President’s Day holiday shortened week as the markets awaited Friday afternoon’s January Milk Production report. The blocks closed Friday morning at $1.4125 per pound, down 9 1/4-cents on the week, but still 10 1/4-cents above a year ago. The barrels closed at $1.3775, down 6 3/4-cents on the week, and 10 3/4s below a year ago. Fifteen cars of block traded hands on the week and 12 of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price hit $1.5024, up 2.7 cents. Barrel averaged $1.5098, down 1.6 cents.

Butter lost a penny Tuesday, then jumped a nickel, but gave back 2 on Friday to close at $1.36, up 2 cents on the week, and 25 3/4-cents above a year ago. Twenty eight cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.3503, down 4.2 cents.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk finished the week at $1.12, up 1 1/2-cents, while Extra Grade held all week at $1.24. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.1417, down 0.3 cent, and dry whey averaged 39.6 cents, up 0.6 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

World Dairy Expo Names Judges

News EditorWorld Dairy Expo

World Dairy Expo 2010 may be more than six months away, but today, the official judges for the world class dairy show were appointed. This year’s event theme is: “Crowning Achievements – Golden Opportunities,” and will take place at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin from September 28 through October 2.

The individuals who will be responsible for placing over 2,500 head of dairy cattle during the five-day show are:
International Junior Holstein Show: Adam Liddle, Argyle, New York
International Ayrshire Show: Norm Nabholz, West Union, Iowa
Ayrshire Associate: Randy Franck, Dewitt, Iowa
International Milking Shorthorn Show: Ronnie Mosser, Geneva, Indiana
Central National Jersey Show: Kelly Barbee, Concord, North Carolina
Jersey Associate: Dennis Patrick, Woodbine, Maryland
International Brown Swiss Show: Callum McKinven, Canton De Hatley, Quebec, Canada
Brown Swiss Associate: Richard Landry, Ste-Brigitte des Saults, Quebec, Canada
International Guernsey Show: Lynn Harbaugh, Pine River, Wisconsin
Guernsey Associate: Paul Trapp, Taylor, Wisconsin
Grand International Red & White Show: Brian Carscadden, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Red & White Associate: Quim Serrabassa, Spain
International Holstein Show: Brian Craswell, Civic, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Holstein Associate: Tyler Doiron, Cap Sante, Quebec, Canada

Source: World Dairy Expo

Holstein Foundation Offers Free Dairy Judging Workbook

News EditorEducation, Holstein Association

The Holstein Foundation has released a new Dairy Judging workbook, provided free of charge to download. Connect with the Foundation online, at their Facebook page.

For beginners, the Dairy Judging workbook starts with fundamentals such as the parts of a dairy cow and the four major breakdowns of the PDCA Unified Scorecard. Comparative dairy terminology is covered with pictures showing structural variations of cattle. Preparing and presenting oral reasons is a featured section, with several examples, as well as tips for both beginners and more advanced youth. An introduction to linear evaluation is also provided. Several interactive exercises and resources for both youth and judging coaches are available in the workbook, including worksheets to teach the parts of a cow, oral reasons vocabulary and note-taking skills, as well as placing cards that can be copied off and used in practices.

For those interested in learning more about Registered Holstein pedigrees, the Pedigree Questions and Answers workbook has also been updated, with information on many of the changes that have taken place in recent months.

These workbooks come along with the launch of a completely redesigned Holstein Foundation Web site, which highlights the organization’s dairy leadership development programs. Along with Dairy Judging are several other free, educational workbooks covering topics from genetics and pedigrees to nutrition and general dairy cattle care.

Source: The Holstein Foundation

Hudson Lastest to Wear Milk Mustache

News Editorgot milk?, Media

Jennifer Hudson is the newest milk mustache wearing celeb. Check out behind the scenes video and photos here.

Her ad “The taste of fame” reads: “Center stage, silver screen, joyful new mom. How do I keep this show on the road? Milk. Its wholesome goodness helps make my family strong at every stage. Talk about a powerful performance.”

With her high-powered soulful style, 28-year-old Jennifer Hudson has already achieved feats that are reserved for most young signers’ dreams. The former “American Idol” contestant nabbed a much-deserved Academy Award for her unforgettable role as “Effie” in the 2006 movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” and went on to appear in the 2008 summer box office hit “Sex in the City.” Hudson’s next film will be “Winnie,” based on the life of Winnie Mandela which she will shoot in South Africa this summer.

Jennifer has won numerous awards, including a Grammy for her self-titled debut album, which spawned the hit single “Spotlight.” Her second album will be released in May 2010.

In August 2009, Jennifer started signing a new tune – lullabies – after giving birth to her son David Daniel Otunga Jr., with fiancé David Otunga.

Source: Why Milk?

USDA Issues Final Rule on Organic

News EditorGovernment, Organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced details of the final regulation regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations. This rule amends the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to clarify the use of pasture in raising organic ruminants.

“Clear and enforceable standards are essential to the health and success of the market for organic agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The final rule published today will give consumers confidence that organic milk or cheese comes from cows raised on pasture, and organic family farmers the assurance that there is one, consistent pasture standard that applies to dairy products.”

The final rule provides certainty to consumers that organic livestock production is a pasture based system in which animals are actively grazing pasture during the grazing season. The majority of organic dairy and ruminant livestock producers are already grazing animals and maintaining pastures that meet the requirements of this rule. These standards contain clear requirements that will provide greater assurance that all producers are being held to the same standards.

This final rule is the culmination of a process that was initiated in 2005 when the National Organic Standards Board recommended that ruminants obtain a minimum 30 percent dry matter intake for at least 120 days. The proposed rule, published on Oct. 28, 2008, received over 26,000 comments from producers, retailers, handlers, certifying agents, consumers, trade associations, organic associations, animal welfare organizations, consumer groups, state and local government entities and various industry groups.

The main components of the rule include:
* Animals must graze pasture during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days per year;
* Animals must obtain a minimum of 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing pasture during the grazing season;
* Producers must have a pasture management plan and manage pasture as a crop to meet the feed requirements for the grazing animals and to protect soil and water quality; and,
* Livestock are exempt from the 30 percent dry matter intake requirements during the finish feeding period, not to exceed 120 days. Livestock must have access to pasture during the finishing phase.

The final rule becomes effective 120 days after publication, June 17, 2010. Operations which are already certified organic will have one year to implement the provisions. Operations which obtain organic certification after the effective date will be expected to demonstrate full compliance.

Source: USDA

Jelinski Accepts Position with Wis. DBA

News EditorGovernment, Industry News

Congratulations to Dave Jelinski for being named the new Government Affairs Director for the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association.

The Dairy Business Association (DBA) is an association of progressive dairy farmers, cheese processors and allied industry partners who together produce one of Wisconsin’s most valuable commodities and provide over $60 billion dollars into our economy each year. Jelinski is a skilled professional with in-depth knowledge and decades of experience in the regulation of animal agriculture in Wisconsin.

Mr. Jelinski comes to DBA with a degree in Agricultural Engineering and over 25 years of hands-on experience working for Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection. He recently announced his retirement from the agency where he served in many capacities, the most recent being the Director of Land and Water Resources, a position where he was responsible for a variety of programs related to soil and water conservation and farmland preservation.

Wisconsin’s dairy farmers accept their responsibility to protect the land, air and water we all cherish. How manure is managed and used is more meaningful to environmental performance than the quantity produced. Dave will help legislators and regulatory agencies understand why agriculture has changed significantly in recent decades and why some farms will need to grow in order to remain competitive with other states and other countries.

“This position is vital to secure job growth in the State of Wisconsin. Our rural communities are heavily dependent on a healthy agriculture economy to ensure a quality, rural way of life. They are also dependent on knowing their hard-working farm families are doing everything possible to protect and enhance Wisconsin’s environmental resources. The Dairy Business Association and our new Government Affairs Director are fundamentally committed to fostering this type of responsible growth of Wisconsin dairies,” said Laurie Fischer. “Dave is well-known and highly regarded by agency staff and members of the Wisconsin Legislature. We are certain that Dave will do an outstanding job as our liaison with the State Legislature and State Agencies.”

Source: The Dairy Business Association

IDFA Signs Memorandum of Understanding

News EditorGovernment

The following information was released by the International Dairy Foods Association:

The International Dairy Foods Association has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to promote increased energy efficiency in U.S. dairy processing facilities. Through the agency’s ENERGY STAR® program, IDFA and EPA will work together to provide valuable management tools to help dairy processors measure and control energy in their manufacturing facilities and document energy savings achieved.

IDFA and EPA believe that manufacturers seeking to manage energy more effectively may benefit from resources that EPA can leverage and develop with the industry. Under this MOU, IDFA and EPA will reach a greater number of processors, help them progress toward greater energy efficiency and establish systems capable of delivering and sustaining energy savings in the long-term.

EPA introduced the ENERGY STAR program in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $19 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.

According to the MOU, IDFA plans to:
* Encourage U.S. dairy processors to participate in the ENERGY STAR program, in ENERGY STAR’s Focus on Energy Efficiency in dairy processing and in the use of ENERGY STAR’s energy management tools and resources;
* Provide the opportunity for forums where industry, IDFA and EPA may interact on the use and development of energy tools; and
* Assist EPA in evaluating the performance of the initiative.

EPA, through ENERGY STAR, has tools, expertise and services oriented toward corporate energy management, including:
* Energy management program development guidance and management tools;
* Listings of energy service and product providers;
* End-user networks;
* Web- and teleconference-based trainings;
* Formal recognition of energy performance achievements of dairy processors; and
* An ENERGY STAR Industrial Focus on Energy Efficiency in Dairy Processing, including a national plant energy-performance indicator (EPI) to evaluate the energy efficiency of select types of dairy processing plants in the United States.

Source: International Dairy Foods Federation

Ever-Green-View New Production Record Holder

News EditorHolstein Association

Congratulations to Thomas J. Kestell of Waldo, Wis. for his record breaking Holstein cow – Ever-Green-View My 1326-ET. Ever-Green-View is the new national milk production record holder, at four years and five months of age, she has produced a 365-day record of 72,170 pounds of milk, with 2,787 pounds of fat and 2,142 pounds of protein.

Sired by Stouder Morty-ET, 1326-ET hails from Ever-Green-View’s prolific “Elsie” family. She is scored EX-92, and also holds the national Junior Four-Year-Old records for milk and fat production in both the 305 and 365-day categories. She produced almost 37,000 pounds of milk as a two-year-old and over 46,000 pounds as a three-year-old.

This record breaks the previous 365-day record of 67,914 pounds of milk, set by Muranda Oscar Lucinda-ET VG-86. As a frame of reference, the 2008 actual production average for all U.S. Holstein herds enrolled in production-testing programs was 23,022 pounds of milk, 840 pounds of butterfat and 709 pounds of protein.

1326-ET’s exceptional record is backed by several generations of impressive performance. Her dam is a VG-85 GMD daughter of Ricecrest Lantz-ET, with two 305-day records over 30,000 pounds of milk. Behind that is Ever-Green-View Elsie-ET (by Emprise Bell Elton), scored EX-92 2E GMD DOM, who has a best record at 4-09 of 52,580 pounds of milk, with 4.4 percent fat and 3.3 percent protein. Elsie’s dam is an EX-90 2E GMD DOM daughter of Drendel Melvin Grant-Twin with a four-year-old record over 50,000 pounds of milk, out of a Stardell Valiant Winken-ET daughter, scored EX-91 2E GMD DOM with multiple records over 40,000 pounds of milk.

Ever-Green-View Holsteins is owned by Tom and Gin Kestell, with son Chris involved in the operation on a day-to-day basis as well. They have 130 cows with a BAA of 109.7 percent, and a Rolling Herd Average of 35,151 pounds of milk, 1,351 pounds of fat, and 1,083 pounds of protein.

Source: Holstein Association USA

Heart of Manure Perfect Gift

News EditorGeneral

Here’s a light-hearted (pun intended!) story from Tim Engstrom at the Albert Lea Tribune. A farmer in Minnesota has created a unique gift for his wife – a Valentine’s Day heart…made from manure!

Following plans he jotted on scratch paper, Bruce Andersland drove his tractor and manure spreader earlier this week in the special shape for his wife, Beth. On Thursday afternoon, the Tribune was on the telephone with Beth when she had her first look at the aerial image, taken through Minnesota Aviation by Albert Lea pilot Darren Schone.

With a gasp, Beth said, “Now I’ve got my Valentine! That’s pretty cute.”

She said it was the biggest and most original Valentine she has received in her life. Bruce said he had the idea because the square-mile, snow-covered field seemed fitting for something.

“There’s such a nice field there. I thought we could just do it for fun,” he said.

Bruce began the project Wednesday and finished Thursday. The heart made of manure is recognizable only from the air. Beth first discovered he was working on the heart when he emptied his pockets on Wednesday night. She asked him about the scratch paper with the heart pattern on it, and he explained.

“He thinks of cute things to do once in a while, so I was a little surprised,” she said.

Beth raises purebred Simmentals on their farm. That makes getting a Valentine made of manure actually a good thing.

“That’s just part of farm life. Doing something fun and creative with it makes farming fun,” she said.

Source: Albert Lea Tribune
Photo Credit: Darren Schone, Minnesota Aviation