ABI and ADPI to Hold Annual Meeting

News EditorButter, Dairy Business, Dairy Group, Industry News, International

abi adpi annual meetingThe American Butter Institute (ABI) and the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) will meet next month from April 26-28, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Ill. for their Joint Annual Meeting.

This year’s conference will address current critical issues affecting the dairy industry, such as the fluctuations in markets and what lies beyond the current dip in prices. Keynote speaker Peter Luongo, former President and CEO of the Berry Company and current executive director of the Center for Leadership & Executive Development at the University of Dayton, will offer timely insights on effective executive leadership in challenging economic times. During his 33 year career with the Berry Company, Luongo not only “talked the talk,” but also “walked the walk” as he helped the company’s revenues grow from $75 million to $450 million during his final six years as head of the company.

“The 2009 Annual Conference features a terrific program this year with an impressive line-up of industry speakers. The Conference offers a unique opportunity for both proprietary and coop dairy processors, as well as numerous customers, suppliers and traders, to come together in Chicago to conduct business, network and to advance the overall interests of the manufactured dairy products industry,” stated Dale Kleber,
Chief Executive Officer, ADPI.

Over the course of two days, the ABI/ADPI conference will examine a variety of topic areas that include the dairy industry and consumption trends of the world’s largest dairy market in China (including a further look into the recent melamine scandals), policy updates from Washington, new dairy commodity futures and options products, and international whey products. The Tuesday lunch will feature Jeff Thredgold, President of Thredgold Economic Associates, who will help decipher the tangled maze of today’s economy.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

Cash cheese prices continued to move higher early in the third week of March but ended on a down note. The block price crept up to $1.3050 but closed Friday at $1.2925 per pound, still 4 1/4-cents above the previous week, but 50 3/4-cents below that week a year ago. Barrel hit $1.37 on Thursday but plunged 7 1/4-cents Friday, to close at $1.2975, down two cents on the week, and 47 3/4-cents below a year ago. Twenty two cars of block traded hands on the week and 12 of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price slipped to $1.2233, down 3 cents. Barrel averaged $1.2308, down 2.7 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.1825, down a quarter-cent on the week and 20 1/2-cents below a year ago. Only two cars were sold all week. NASS butter averaged $1.1281 per pound, up 1.2 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged 81.56 cents, up 0.1 cent, and dry whey averaged 16.49 cents, up 0.3 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

McPheron Named New Penn State Dean

News EditorGeneral

bruce mcpheronCongratulations to Bruce A. McPheron, for being appointed dean of the University’s College of Agricultural Sciences, effective July 1, pending approval of the Board of Trustees on March 20. McPheron will succeed Robert D. Steele, who is stepping down after 12 years to return full-time to the college’s faculty as a professor in the Department of Food Science. McPheron currently serves as the associate dean for research and graduate education in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station.

“Bruce is an outstanding scholar and teacher with proven leadership skills and is an excellent choice for the position,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Rod Erickson. “His deep knowledge of Penn State and various land-grant universities gives him an invaluable understanding of the great potential of this college.”

McPheron earned a bachelor of science degree in entomology at The Ohio State University, and a master’s degree in biology and doctoral degree in entomology, both at the University of Illinois. He began his teaching career at Penn State in 1988 as assistant professor of entomology, and became associate professor in 1994 and professor in 2000. In 2002 he was named to his current position as associate dean and director of the agricultural experiment station.

McPheron’s scholarly research and teaching interests focus on many topics in agriculture, including entomology, agricultural biosecurity, systematics and interntaional agriculture.

McPheron has said the need for new knowledge in agriculture has never been greater. It is nearly impossible to not find issues related to food, fiber or fuel systems in the headlines each day.

“This public awareness provides an exciting backdrop for the work we do in the College of Agricultural Sciences, whether it is the discovery of new knowledge through research or the dissemination of that knowledge through our diverse resident education or our highly valued Cooperative Extension programs,” McPheron said. “The College is poised to lead in the development and implementation of science-based solutions to many pressing societal problems, from safe and nutritious foods to alternative energy to healthy and vibrant communities. We will continue to be student-centered and attentive to our public stakeholders. Our goal is to lead the way to an economically and environmentally sustainable future.”

Producer Can Learn How to Tell Their Story

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Industry News

central plains dairy expoMidwest Dairy Association is offering a free workshop for dairy producers leading up to the opening reception of the 2009 Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls on March 31 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The workshop, called Telling Your Story: Why Your Image and Actions Have Impact, will give producers a chance receive training and resources to help them engage consumers online, get involved in speaking to local community groups or develop their own farm’s public relations plan.

To participate, e-mail info@midwestdairy.com or call 1-800-338-5160 to register by 12 Noon on March 24. The day’s events begin with registration at 11:15 a.m. followed by a free lunch at 11:30 a.m.

During lunch, a panel of speakers will share their experience about the importance of dairy farmer image and actions. Presenters are: Ginger Post, a Volga, S.D., dairy producer who reaches out to community leaders through Midwest Dairy Association’s SpeakOut! program; Rodney and Dorothy Elliot of Drumgoon Dairy, Lake Norden, S.D., who have implemented a variety of public relations tools to gain acceptance of their dairy in their community; and Cindy Cunningham, assistant vice president of communications for the National Pork Board, who helped an Iowa pork operation rebuild its credibility after undercover video that aired nationally called into question animal treatment practices.

Participants can attend one of three breakout sessions from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., led by checkoff staff. Workshop descriptions are as follows:

Telling Your Story Online: exploring how to “tell your dairy story” in this new media landscape and introducing a new program call myDairy;

Connect with Your Community: helping each participant to develop their own public relations plan, from mission statement and tag line to ideas for community and neighbor outreach; and

SpeakOut! with Local Leaders and the Media: joining the ranks of more than 150 dairy producers who receive tools, training and scheduling for presentations they can give to local community groups.

I’m no chemist, but I sure like dairy!

Amanda NolzDairy Group, Milk, Products

amanda_nolz11 A semester into my first year of college, I decided that I needed a part-time job, so I applied for a lab assistant job at Dairy Microbiology. I was pretty excited about the job as it paid well, and I was fascinated by the dairy industry. Plus, I got to take home free milk, cheese and ice cream samples home as a benefit. Free ice cream? Hello, dream job!

As I was given a tour of the facilities on my first day on the job, I learned that I would spend my days testing for fat content in milk samples. I would also wash dishes and test tubes. I would grid tests and fill out paperwork. I thought to myself, “Okay, I’m not a chemist, but maybe I’ll learn something new. It can’t be that bad can it?” However, as a journalism student, I quickly realized that detailed chemistry experiments, endless dishes to wash and tedious lab tests and paperwork were definitely not my thing.

One day, I was working in the lab when it suddenly dawned on me that I might not belong in a chemistry lab. I was testing for fat content in a batch of chocolate milk samples. The chocolate milk was constantly causing me problems, and I always ended up doing the experiment twice. That day I vowed that I would get it right the first time.

Unfortunately, I soon started day dreaming about my career goals, my weekend plans and how much homework I had that night. The next thing you know, I had put a chemical into my experiment earlier than it had called for. Well, in my mind, that called for another experiment. What would happen to my chocolate milk if I finished the test this way? I placed the test tubes into the centrifuge. I pushed the button to start the spin, and BAM! Chocolate milk exploded everywhere! Sadly, I cleaned up the mess in shame, knowing I would have to repeat the test to earn accurate results.

I walked home from work that day and thought that maybe a chemistry lab position wasn’t exactly the perfect fit for my skill set. I knew my dairy experimenting days were numbered. Throughout my college experience, I have tried new jobs and learned new things, but I will never forget the day I realized…I’m no chemist, but I sure like the dairy industry!

WMMB Announces Candidates

News EditorGeneral

WisMilkMarketingBoardLogoThe Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced the nominees for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) Board of Directors 2009 election. To vote, DATCP will distribute mail-in ballots in mid-April to dairy producers who live within the eight districts. Elections will be held through April 25, 2009, with results announced later in May.

District 2 – Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, Vilas
Candidate: Connie Seefeldt

District 5 – Dunn and St. Croix
Candidate: Kay Zwald

District 8 – Marathon
Candidate: Keith Langenhahn
Candidate: Robert Prahl
Candidate: Steve Sternweis

District 11 – Outagamie and Winnebago
Candidate: Robert Letter

District 14 – Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau
Candidate: Patricia Kling

District 17 – Calumet and Manitowoc
Candidate: Rosalie Geiger

District 20 – Richland and Sauk
Candidate: Sharon Laubscher
Candidate: Randy Roecker

District 23 – Iowa and Lafayette
Candidate: Jay M. Staffacher

A Q&A with Secretary Vilsack

News EditorGeneral

vilsack_tom_ag_secretary_crop-300x0New U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently conducted a Q&A session with the newspaper, USA TODAY. Take a minute to read through the interview and get to know Vilsack’s views better.

Excerpts from the interview have been edited for content and clarity.

Q: Can you assess the farm economy? Prices for corn, wheat, dairy and other products have dropped in recent months, while production costs have remained high.

A: In 2008, we saw substantial increases in farm income, exports early in the year, continued strength of the renewable fuels industry. Let’s take it to 2009: Almost all the commodities across the board have seen a decline in pricing, some more severe and more dramatic than others.

We’re dealing with issues in dairy, pork, walnuts; there are invasive species issues in citrus that are impacting, potentially, yields, and there is drought in California and Texas. … There is also concern in the renewable fuel industry, because ethanol production facilities, biofuel facilities are operating on relatively slim margins, if they have any margins at all.

The one saving grace, to the extent that there is a saving grace in these difficult economic times, is that the farm community, generally speaking, is far less leveraged than the general population or other businesses and industries. … For every dollar in debt, farmers and ranchers have $9 of equity or assets. That’s (substantially better) than in the last farm crisis in the ’80s, when we lost a lot of farms.

Q: What is the USDA strategy?

A: We’re buying butter, we’re buying non-fat dry milk … 207 million pounds of (dairy), which is a lot.

(Another focus is) how do you help create markets for products? Our focus here has been on renewable energy, encouraging the (Environmental Protection Agency) to consider an adjustment to (rules on the amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline) so that more ethanol is required, therefore, more ethanol will be sold.

Q: What will you do with dairy purchases?

A: What we are going to do … for the most part is to get them into the school lunch program and get them into the food banks.

Read More

Assessing Spring Alfalfa Stands

Cindy ZimmermanAlfalfa, Audio, Feed, Forage Forum, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Podcast

Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastNow is the time to start assessing the yield potential for alfalfa stands – looking for potential winterkill concerns. There are several factors that affect winter injury, such as stand age, variety, soil conditions, such as pH fertility and fall moisture, timing of the last cut and cutting interval. In some parts of the country, snow cover is also a factor. David Miller, Pioneer alfalfa research director, discusses winterkill concerns, spring growth characteristics and more.

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://zimmcomm.biz/pioneer/pioneer-podcast-50-wdd.mp3]

Dave Miller on Assessing Spring Alfalfa Stands (5:20 min MP3)

To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.

Hamburg New Commissioner at FDA

News EditorGovernment, Industry News

40368_mainLast week, President Obama also officially announced several appointments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Former New York City health chief Margaret A. Hamburg is the new FDA commissioner. Baltimore Health Commissioner Joshua Sharfstein will be Hamburg’s deputy.

Obama also said he is forming a Food Safety Working Group to “upgrade our food safety laws for the 21st century.”

Hamburg, 53, is a physician and bioterrorism expert who served as an assistant health secretary during the Clinton administration. She is widely credited with helping to turn around a demoralized New York City health department and cutting rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis. Hamburg’s appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Sharfstein, 39, is a pediatrician who has served as Baltimore’s health commissioner and who worked as a health policy aide to Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), now chairman of the commerce committee. Sharfstein attracted national attention when he took on the drug industry and petitioned the FDA in 2007 to restrict the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications for young children.