Vermont Farmers Cut Cows' Emissions by Altering Diets

Amanda NolzDairy Business, Products

a-cow-sniffs-at-a-photogr-002 The Associated Press recently reported on dairy farmers who have made efforts to reduce cow emissions by altering the diets of their dairy cows. By feeding flax seed, alfalfa and grass, instead of corn and soybeans, the farmers have been able to greatly reduce their carbon footprint. What do you think about climate change discussions? Do you think these are really effective ways to reduce emissions? Is this something you would like to implement?

Vermont dairy farmers Tim Maikshilo and Kristen Dellert, mindful of shrinking their carbon footprint, have changed their cows’ diet to reduce the amount of gas the animals burp — dairy cows’ contribution to global warming.

Coventry Valley Farm is one of 15 Vermont farms working with Stonyfield Farm Inc., whose yogurt is made with their organic milk, to reduce the cows’ intestinal methane by feeding them flaxseed, alfalfa, and grasses high in Omega 3 fatty acids. The gas cows belch is the dairy industry’s biggest greenhouse gas contributor, research shows, most of it emitted from the front and not the back end of the cow.

To read more about these dairy farmers’ efforts, link to the AP story.

NMPF Strategic Planning Task Force Gets Underway

News EditorGovernment, Industry News

NMPFlogoIn response to the current economic milk price crisis affecting dairy farmers across the country, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)’s newly-formed Strategic Planning Task Force met last week to focus on short‐term solutions and to establish an aggressive schedule for addressing longer‐term solutions to the problem.

The Task Force immediately voted to recommend to the CWT Committee and the NMPF Board of Directors to direct any available CWT funds to assist CWT members in utilizing the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) to its fullest extent. DEIP has the potential to export the equivalent of more than 1.5 billion pounds of milk. The NMPF Board of Directors immediately approved the recommendation and directed CWT management to work with CWT members to facilitate this recommendation.

While CWT’s Export Assistance program isn’t meant to replace the use of the DEIP, “we’ve always seen it as a complement to the role of DEIP, and so we are willing to utilize specially designated CWT funds to help expedite the use of the government’s resources to help remove one percent of the nation’s dairy production through DEIP,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF.

Kozak said that this measure, spurred on by the Task Force, will further aid efforts to correct the supply‐demand imbalance at the heart of the financial hardship being faced by thousands of American dairy farm families. In a separate action, CWT is currently in the middle of removing more than 100,000 cows equivalent to two billion pounds of milk in the largest‐ever herd retirement in its six‐year history.

To address longer‐term factors affecting price and volatility, the Task Force will next meet in Chicago with representatives from major dairy producer organizations across the nation that are proposing programs to resolve the crisis.

The Task Force will engage in a detailed dialogue with these groups “to determine the economic and political feasibility of those plans, with the goal of achieving a common understanding of how best to tackle the problems of low milk prices and high input costs,” Kozak said.

Letters of invitation have already been sent to the producer organizations asking them to be prepared to discuss a number of proposals concerning both supply and demand.

“There was no single reason why dairy farmers have found themselves in this plight so the Task Force will focus on developing a portfolio of solutions to ensure that we can avoid such circumstances in the future,” said Kozak

Cow-Milking Contest Highlights Farmpark's Dairy Days

Amanda NolzEducation, Exhibitor, Farm Show

In an age where the media and animal rights activists continually get the agriculture story wrong, it’s increasingly important for producers to connect to their consumers. Dairy Days is a program that just does that, and producers kept busy educating consumers about dairy production at a recent event.

Leigh Anderson and Kimi Bassett are dairy interpreters at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark in Kirtland. No, they are not cheese whisperers, nor do they speak butter. What they interpret is the minutiae of livestock and farm life for the city folk who frequent the Farmpark. They were kept especially busy during the Farmpark’s Dairy Days event this past weekend.

nh1071044 Anderson and Bassett hosted a cow-milking contest Sunday, much to the joy of the young children assembled and the chagrin of Annabelle, the 3-year-old Ayrshire who was milked by a series of amateurs. First, Anderson had the kids simulate the motion on their downturned thumbs. After their introduction to the world of lactation, the kids went for the udder with gusto. In addition to milking Annabelle, the Dairy Days included demonstrations on how to make ice cream and yogurt, a cheese tasting and a display of milk-bottle and butter-churn collections. (Photo courtesy of Ohio News Herald)

To read the entire article, link to Jason Lea’s article in the Ohio News Herald.

Obamas Stop for Custard on Father's Day

Amanda NolzIce Cream, Industry News

20thecaucus-custard480Want to know where President Obama spent part of his Father’s Day? In a quick trip to get ice cream, Malia and Sasha took their dad to a Wisconsin-based ice cream shop called Dairy Godmother in the Washington D.C. area. (Article and photos by Jeff Zeleny of “The Caucus” Blog)

At this boutique on Mount Vernon Avenue, the sign indicates that the line forms to the right. But Mr. Obama and his small entourage went to the left, bypassing the crowd. No one seemed to mind, store employees said later, as people strained their necks to see what the Obama family was ordering.

The president had a small vanilla custard with hot fudge and almonds. Malia asked for vanilla custard in a waffle cone. And Sasha ordered a brownie sundae with vanilla custard. Bo, the presidential dog, was not along for the ride on this pre-Father’s Day outing, but the store employees sent a bag of “puppy pops” home with the girls.

Mr. Obama paid for the items and offered to leave a tip, according to Elizabeth van Gestel, who rang up his order. Mr. Obama was told that tips aren’t allowed at the Dairy Godmother, so he stayed for about 15 minutes, taking photographs and eating his custard.

Miss America Becomes Dairy Association Spokesperson

Amanda NolzDairy Business, Industry News

2009_katie_signaturesh_large I knew that the 2009 Miss America, Katie Stam was a gem! After writing about her in AgWired for her support of 4-H and community service, it’s in the news that this dynamic woman is now a spokesperson for the dairy industry! According to Indy’s News Center, Indiana’s first Miss America, Katie Stamm, is the new celebrity spokesperson for the American Dairy Association. What a great face for America’s milk producers!

Stamm recently completed a photo shoot for the ADA’s new image campaign in Indianapolis on Monday. She grew up on a family dairy farm in Jackson County and showed dairy cattle in 4-H.

Stamm said it was always a goal of hers to do what she could to help the farming community. Now as Miss America, she says she’s come full circle, promoting dairy products at appearances for the American Dairy Association around the state and across the U.S. Stamm will be in Indiana for a few more days, crowning a new Miss Indiana on Saturday before leaving for more appearances in Colorado and California.

Teens, Young Adults Need More Milk

News EditorHealth, Industry News, Milk, Nutrition

chocolate-milkYoung people tend to cut down on bone-strengthening dairy products as they enter their 20s — just when their body needs it most, new research finds. In a study by researchers at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, a majority of the 1,500 participants reduced their calcium intake in high school and the years immediately following high school. More than half of the males and more than two-thirds of the females consumed less than the daily recommended level of calcium at the end of each of those time periods, the researchers found

The study findings are published in the July issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Because human bone mass peaks when a person is in their 30s, consuming sufficient amounts of calcium, protein and vitamin D — all found in dairy products — during the teen and young-adult years is considered key to lowering the risk of osteoporosis and some other health issues in later life. About 1,300 mg of calcium a day is recommended for high school-aged children and 1,000 mg a day for young adults, according to a news release from the journal.

Increased availability of milk at mealtime, a proper attitude and approach to weight, health and nutrition, and a taste for milk were linked to greater consumption of calcium during these critical years, the study authors noted. Excessive television watching and lactose intolerance were tied to lower calcium levels.

“The findings of this study indicate that future interventions designed to promote improvements in calcium intake should encourage the families of adolescents to serve milk at meals,” the team concluded in their report. The authors also suggested that specific efforts target concerns particular to each sex.

Natalie Laubner Crowned 63rd North Dakota Dairy Princess

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Education, Industry News

09_nddp_3363Congratulations to Natalie Laubner, 17, of Mandan, N.D. Natalie was crowned the 63rd North Dakota Dairy Princess allowing her to serve as the official goodwill ambassador for the nearly 250 North Dakota dairy farmers during the coming year. Natalie’s duties will include media interviews and she will be active at the North Dakota State Fair promoting the dairy industry. Dairy princess candidates were judged on personality, knowledge of the dairy industry, enthusiasm for promotion and communication skills. The dairy princess program is sponsored by the state’s dairy farmers through the checkoff program.

Natalie is the daughter of Larry and Elaine Laubner. She will attend Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas this fall pursuing a degree in animal science. Natalie also received an $800 scholarship from the North Dakota Milk Processors and Friends of Dairymen.

Throughout her year-long reign as North Dakota Dairy Princess, Natalie will make numerous appearances to educate children and adults about dairy farmers’ commitment and caring for their animals and the environment. She will make classroom visits to educate children on the importance of including wholesome dairy products in their diets every day.

Four candidates competed for the North Dakota Dairy Princess title. Nancy Leier of Hague was named runner-up.

Nancy plans to study Bismark State College majoring as a veterinary technician or agronomy this fall.. She also received a $500 scholarship from the North Dakota Milk Processors and Friends of Dairymen.

Tiffany Mosset of Linton was awarded a $500 scholarship from Midwest Dairy Association. Tiffany is studying at the Minnesota School of Business in Moorhead majoring in veterinary technology.

Leprino Plant Still on Track, but Delayed

News EditorCheese, Industry News

leprinofoodsA proposed Leprino Foods cheese plant in Greeley, Colo. is still on track, but depressed milk prices may force a change in the schedule of how that new plant is built.

The $143 million, 847,000-square-foot plant, to be built on the former site of the Western Sugar Cooperative factory, will convert milk into cheese for use primarily on the nation’s pizzas. At its inception, Leprino said the plant would employ 260 people, with 500 total new jobs created when all construction is complete in later building phases.

But those phases may be changed due to economic conditions of the dairy industry, said Becky Safarik, community development director for the city of Greeley, who has been in regular contact with company officials.

“They (Leprino) are cautiously optimistic,” Safarik said. “I’m in contact with them almost every week, and they are still moving ahead, but they may be bumping their time line.” She said grading permits for the site east of 1st Avenue and 13th Street, are ready, and Leprino officials indicated they would pick those up by the end of the month.

She said she has been told the dairy industry may start to see improvement later this year, but how long that will take is up for conjecture.

The economy in general has forced businesses to slow, and that includes Leprino, which is the largest producer of mozzarella cheese in the country for the quick-service restaurant business. In addition to a plant in Fort Morgan and the planned Greeley facility, it has operations in Minnesota, New Mexico, Nebraska, California and the United Kingdom.

Leprino gets all of its milk from Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative that includes most Colorado dairies. In addition to the mozzarella cheese it provides as diced and shredded product, it produces whey and lactose products, which it also will do at the Greeley plant.

In response to the current milk price crisis affecting dairy farmers across the country, the National Milk Producers Federation‘s newly-formed Strategic Planning Task Force met last week to focus on short-term solutions and to establish an aggressive schedule for addressing longer-term solutions to the problem.

The new group voted to recommend the utilization of the Dairy Export Incentive Program to its fullest extent. The program has the potential to export the equivalent of more than 1.5 billion pounds of milk. Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the producers group, said that move will further aid efforts to correct the supply-demand imbalance at the heart of the financial crisis that has hit the industry.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

The cash dairy markets remain depressed at the midpoint of June Dairy month. The block cheese price closed Friday at $1.1175 per pound, down 3 1/4-cents on the week, 84 1/4-cents below a year ago, and 1 1/4- cents below the support price. Twenty nine cars traded hands on the week plus, 12 of barrel.

Barrel closed at $1.07, down 2 1/4-cents on the week, 3 cents below support, and 88 cents below a year ago. That’s when the barrel price plunged 20 cents to $1.95. However, sales may now be triggered to Uncle Sam. The lagging NASS U.S. average block price was $1.1478, up a half-cent. Barrel averaged $1.1245, up 1.5 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.2050, down 2 1/4-cents on the week, 29 3/4-cents below a year ago. Twenty one carloads were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.2103, down 1.7 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged 85.16 cents, up 1.3 cents, and dry whey averaged 26.68 cents, up 0.4 cent.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk lost a penny, slipping to 89 cents per pound. Four cars were sold. Extra Grade remained at 87.50.

Price support purchases for the week amounted to 7.9 million pounds of nonfat dry milk, raising the cumulative total so far to 258.4 million, compared to none a year ago. The 4.6 million pounds of butter purchased under the support program in January and February was sold at $1.1581-$1.1750 per pound this week.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Faria is New Dairy Princess

News EditorGeneral

dist-9-tulare-dp-photo-a-09Congratulations to Chelsi Faria of Tipton, Calif. for being crowned the 2009-10 Dairy Princess of the California Milk Advisory Board‘s District 9. Faria will represent the California Dairy Industry throughout the coming year.

Chelsi is from District 9, which includes Tulare County. As Dairy Princess she will play an important role on the Communications Services team of the California Milk Advisory Board in meeting community relations objectives.

The daughter of Rick and Vicki Faria of Tipton, Chelsi, 17, is attending Tulare Union High School where she will graduate in 2010. She’s applying to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California State University Fresno or Chico State and plans on majoring in Animal Science. Chelsi is involved in FFA and 4-H.

First Alternate, Sarena Silva, 17, is the daughter of Joe and Maria Silva of Tulare. Sarena is currently a student at Mission Oak High School in Tulare and will graduate in 2001. She is active in Honor Roll, Varsity cheerleading, 4-H and FFA.

Alternate Dairy Princess Sarena Silva will assist the new District 9 Princess in her duties which include speaking out on behalf of the California Dairy Industry at schools, service clubs, on radio and TV, and at numerous public events throughout the year.

In addition, the Dairy Princess and her alternate will attend a training session including topics such as public speaking skills and media training as well as an orientation to the California Milk Advisory Board and tours of processing facilities.

Contestants were judged on poise, personality, speaking ability, education and dairy background. Judges for the contest included Hinke DeJong of Tulare, Durbin Pedro of Hanford and Mary Cameron of Hanford.