Butter Goes Western

News EditorButter, General, Industry News

LOLbutterWell folks, you learn something new everyday. I had no idea that the western part of our country prefer their butter sticks to be short and squat! Land O’Lakes is meeting this demand with their new “stubby” butter!

The new Western-sized butter from Land O’Lakes, which this week is finally changing the shape of its butter sticks – but only for the quirky West Coast market.

One of the regional curiosities of the butter business is that different regions prefer different butter packaging. Midwesterners like their butter in long and slim sticks, stacked two-by-two into a one-pound block. But on the West Coast, the “Western stubby” style is popular. That’s a butter stick only three inches long, but wider, and the sticks are packaged four abreast to make up a pound.

“It’s been the norm in the West for a long, long time,” explained Lydia Botham, a spokesperson for Arden Hills-based Land O’Lakes, which has the nation’s No. 1 brand of butter. Rather than fight regional tastes, Land O’Lakes finally decided, “They like it that way, so let’s do it,” Botham said. The Land O’Lakes Western stubby is now appearing in California and nine other Western states.

Senate Voices Approval for MILC

News EditorGovernment, Milk

More news on this as it is announced. What do you think about extending the MILC program?

An endangered federal subsidy for dairy farmers picked up support today from the Senate Appropriations Committee. The panel agreed in a voice vote to a proposal by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to extend the program for one month at a cost of $31 million. The new expiration date of Sept. 30 would coincide with other farm commodity programs that are up for renewal in a new farm bill. The provision was inserted into a $121.6 billion emergency supplemental spending bill the Senate will consider next week.

Sen. Herb Kohl, who co-sponsored the Leahy provision, said in an interview that the Milk Income Loss Contract program helps all dairy farmers when market prices while imposing a cap on federal payments that limit its value to large dairy farms.

Kohl indicated the chances for getting the extension enacted into law were good, given that the House has an extension in its emergency-spending bill. The House provision, inserted by Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, would extend the program by 13 months through the end of the 2008 fiscal year.

Blue Bell Bronze

News EditorIce Cream, Industry News

bluebelllogoBack in December I reported that Blue Bell Creamery based in Texas, was embarking on a year long 100th anniversary campaign. Part of that celebration is turning the creamery’s old-timey logo into a life-like bronze sculpture. Local artist Veryl Goodnight was chosen to complete the task.

The logo, featuring a young girl leading a Jersey cow, is only a silhouette, so the act of bringing it to a three-dimensional, bluebellsculptlife size has been no easy task. “Blue Bell Cow and Girl,” as the sculpted version of the logo has been named, will be cast in bronze.

Goodnight estimated the sculpture will have cost at least $50,000 and one year of her time when it is delivered. She is making one life-sized sculpture and 21 miniature versions.

Energy Funds Available from USDA

News EditorGovernment

USDA is making available loans and grants to agricultural producers and small businesses for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant program was established under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill. It provides loan guarantees and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems or for energy efficiency improvements.

Loan guarantees cover up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. These loans and grants are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.97 million metric tons, replace 821 million barrels of foreign oil and generate almost 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. USDA has funded more than 800 loans and grants since the renewable energy program began in FY 2003.

Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development state office postmarked no later than May 18. The deadline for submitting loan applications as well as for loan and grant combinations is July 2.

Jersey Juniors Apply for Scholarships

News EditorJersey Association

JerseylogoThe American Jersey Cattle Association is offering several scholarships to its Junior members. Don’t let these pass you by – applications are due by July 5th!

A Russell–Malnati Scholarship for Advanced Studies of $5,000 will be awarded. Undergraduate students who have completed at least one-half of coursework credit hours required for a degree in dairy science, animal science (dairy emphasis), large animal veterinary practice, dairy production or manufacturing, or dairy product marketing, and graduate students in those program areas are eligible to apply.

The William A. Russell Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 will be presented to a student who will begin a program of study at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2007.

The Cedarcrest Scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student seeking a degree in large animal veterinary practice, dairy production, dairy manufacturing, or dairy product marketing.

The V. L. Peterson Scholarship ($950) and Paul Jackson Memorial Scholarship ($400) will be awarded to students who have completed at least one year of college or university work.

Also to be awarded is a $750 Bob Toole Jersey Youth Award, which can be used for either college expenses or a well-defined practical experience related to breeding, developing and showing Registered Jerseys™.

Residents of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia who are at least high school graduates, but not older than 36 years of age as of January 1, are eligible to apply for the Reuben R. Cowles Jersey Youth Award. Applicants must state whether the award money will be used for to support their education or to fund a trip to the All American Jersey Show and Sale, the AJCA-NAJ Annual Meetings or other Jersey educational activities. The value of this award is variable; the 2006 award was $800.

A $1,000 Jack C. Nisbet Scholarship will also be presented to a eligible nominee for the 2006 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest.

New Midwest Checkoff Leaders

News EditorDairy Checkoff

The Midwest Dairy Association has elected new officers in two of its state divisions, Minnesota and South Dakota.

minnofficersOfficers for the Minnesota division are: Ken Herbranson, Clitherall – chairman, Paul Fritsche, New Ulm – vice chairman, Kay Henninger, Carlton – secretary, and Ron Rinkel, Hillman – treasurer. Charles Krause, Buffalo, and Corrine Lieser, Belgrade, were seated as new members of the board, which helps direct dairy promotion efforts in Midwest Dairy Association’s nine state region. It is the operating arm of the Minnesota Dairy Promotion Council, whose newly elected officers include: Jeff Fasching, Winsted – chairman, Kathleen Skiba, North Branch – vice chair, Judy Hoffman, Waseca – secretary, Suzanne Vold, Glenwood – treasurer, and Ron Rinkel, Hillman – executive committee member at-large.

Dan Olson, Paynesville, was elected to serve on the Princess Kay committee, and Skiba and Rinkel will join other state representatives on the American Dairy Association of the Midwest board, which controls the organization’s non-cash assets.

In addition to the eight who hold office in the Division, six other producers were elected to serve on the Midwest Dairy Association Corporate Board. They are: Gary Bergan, Hawley, Carolyn Freese, Lanesboro, Dan Grunhovd, Gary, Mel Kunstleben, Paynesville, David Schwartz, Slayton, and Chris Sukalski, Leroy. Kunstleben was re-elected chairman of the Midwest Dairy Association Corporate Board. He and Schwartz represent Minnesota on the national dairy checkoff board.

sdakotaofficersOfficers for South Dakota division are: Jim Neugebauer, (Dimock, SD) – Chairman, Gary Jarding, (Alexandria, SD) – Vice Chair, Allen Merrill, (Parker, SD) – Secretary, and Dave Haagenson, (Baltic, SD) – Treasurer. Neugebauer, Merrill, and Haagenson were elected to serve on the MDA Corporate Board. The Midwest Dairy Association, of which the South Dakota Division is a part, represents 13,600 dairy farmers in nine states including Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and eastern Oklahoma.

Wisconsin Processor Opposes Ethanol Plant

News EditorIndustry News

Wisconsin based Century Foods International, a division of Hormel Foods Corp., filed suit Monday agaisnt its newest neighbor, an ethanol plant. Century Foods claims the plant’s odors would taint the dairy-based muscle-building powders, weight-loss powders and milk powders it produces.

A key part of Century Foods’ manufacturing process involves allowing air in the plant through roof vents to ensure the powders dry properly and are consistent. Ethanol plant emissions “are highly aromatic and soluble in milk products,” the suit said.

Ethanol plants turn bushels of corn into the fuel additive that is later blended with gasoline. In the process, they emit pollution-causing chemicals and compounds and a smell that supporters liken to popcorn but critics compare to manure.

DFA Chairman of the Board

Chuck ZimmermanAudio, Dairy Group, Feed, General

Dairy Farmers of America Dairy Farmers of America held its annual meeting in Kansas City this week with about 1,000 members in attendance. The theme of the meeting this year was “Members: Our Foundation, Our Focus” and the group had a chance to hear from entertaining futurist Dr. Lowell Catlett and US Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.

In an interview, DFA Chairman of the Board Tom Camerlo said that the biggest challenge facing producers right now is high feed prices, “but usually higher grain prices mean higher milk prices, so we just wait the cycle out.”

“Our projections indicate that we’re going to see better prices, but we are concerned whether those prices will cover the increased cost of corn,” said Camerlo. “And in some parts of the country, alfalfa hay is short because of weather or lack of crop.”

Camerlo says he remains optimistic about the dairy business, “As you look down the road, we’ve got a lot of new products coming out, our market is growing. Last year, fluid milk sales were up per capita for the first time in several years and cheese products continue to increase. We’re selling a lot of dairy ingredients like whey powders in protein drinks.”

“Dairy products are the highest quality protein you can get,” said Camerlo. “We’re even in Girl Scout cookies now.”

Listen to the interview with Camerlo here. Listen To MP3 File Camerlo Interview (6 min MP3)

South Dakota Dairy Princess

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group

Katie NorlingThere’s a new dairy princess in South Dakota. She’s Katie Norling of Beresford and she’s the 53rd South Dakota Dairy Princess.

Kathryn (Katie) Norling, 18, of Beresford was crowned the 53rd South Dakota Dairy Princess in a ceremony Wednesday night (March 21, 2007) during the Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls. Norling was chosen from a field of seven candidates for the title, which carries with it a $1,000 scholarship from the dairy princess program sponsor, Midwest Dairy Association – South Dakota Division.

Norling is the daughter of Jeff and Jane Norling and is a student at South Dakota State University studying dairy manufacturing and nutrition. During the next year, Norling will represent the state’s dairy farmers at events and appearances to help explain dairy farmers’ commitment to good stewardship, animal care and wholesome products.

Norling’s first duty as princess is to assist with the Dairy Kids Zone on Thursday (March 22, 2007), where 115 fifth grade students will learn more about dairy products and the dairy industry during a visit to Central Plains Dairy Expo in Sioux Falls.

Get The Glass You Adachi's

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Milk

Get The GlassThere’s a new online game from the “Got Milk” people called Get The Glass. It’s really worth a look if you have a few minutes.

It features the Adachi family who are bound and determined to steal a glass of milk from Ft. Fridge.

You’ve got to be careful though or you can get caught and be thrown into Milkatraz.

This is entirely different than the last aliens campaign. You can watch the first tv spot for the campaign on this YouTube video.