More Milking Parlors

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

AEM 2007 Forecast ChartThe Association of Equipment Manufacturers has come out with its annual industry forecast for the United States and Canada.

These are 2007 Retail Sales Predictions (in units vs. 2006).

If you can’t read this chart very well then go to their website and you’ll find a complete summary of their report in the Industry Trends section.

I thought you might be interested to see that they expect an increase in the sales of milking parlors.

2007 Farmstead Equipment Sales Outlook

For farmstead equipment, sales of milking parlors are anticipated to increase 1.0 percent for the U.S. and gain 4.3 percent for Canada.

Declines are expected for retail sales of cooling tanks, down 4.0 percent for the U.S. and down 2.0 percent for Canada.

Southwest Cheese Plant Will Make Huge Impact

Chuck ZimmermanCheese, Dairy Business, Industry News

Southwest Cheese Company Aerial ViewSouthwest Cheese Co. LLC officially opened its newest cheese plant in Clovis, N.M. early this month. Milk supplied from the Greater Southwest Agency can be turned into 250 million pounds of cheese and 16.5 million pounds of high value-added whey proteins. You can read more about it in the New Mexico Business Weekly.

“We estimate the local economic benefit of our operations are about $1.2 billion per annum, assuming that each dollar spent on production spins around another four times in the local economy,” says Maurice Keane, president and CEO of Southwest Cheese Co. LLC. “We’re at about 90 percent capacity right now,” he says. “We’re processing around 7 million pounds of milk every day. We produce about one semi-trailer truck full of cheese every hour.” The plant produces 40- and 640-pound blocks of Cheddar, Monterey, Jack, Colby and Pepper Jack cheeses. In fact, production from the plant makes Glanbia the No. 1 U.S. producer of American-style cheddar cheese.

Ready, Set, Milk

Chuck ZimmermanCompetition, Farm Show, Government

Tommy IrvinHe’s Tommy Irvin and he’s running for re-election as Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture. He’s also going to be battling other southeast ag commissioners for the title of Supreme Sunbelt Cow-Milking Champion. This would be at Sunbelt Ag Expo going on now in Moultrie, GA.

He’ll be competing with Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. All the commissioners have “considerable experience.” They’ll compete tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

More than 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the 100-acre event that is considered the world’s largest farm show. The Tuesday through Thursday expo touts 1,200 exhibits coupled with field demonstrations.

Fresh Star For MaggieMoos

Chuck ZimmermanIce Cream, Promotion

Maggie MoosMaggieMoo’s International has a Fresh Star. It’s Better Boogie Board which they describe as, “a delicious combination of Better Batter ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, brownies and fudge.

From May 24 though Sept. 15, over 16,300 customers went online and voted for their favorite MaggieMoo’s Fresh Escape ice cream creation, automatically registering to win prizes such as iPods and iTunes gift cards. Savannah Huthmacher of San Diego won the grand prize in a drawing held Sept. 15. She was awarded a video iPod, MaggieMoo’s $100 gift card, $100 iTunes gift card and a Fresh Star t-shirt. Ten first-place winners received an iPod Shuffle and a $50 MaggieMoo’s gift card, and 100 runner-up winners received a $5 MaggieMoo’s gift card and Fresh Star t-shirt.

“We’d like to thank everybody who cast their vote for America’s newest Fresh Star,” said Jon Jameson, CEO of MaggieMoo’s. “We know it was a tough choice, since all the Fresh Escapes are creamy and delicious, but we’re pleased Better Batter Boogie Board® is America’s Fresh Star.”

Dairy Represented on AAQTF

Chuck ZimmermanGovernment

USDAI just realized that there are a couple of dairy people appointed to the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force which Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns just renewed.

In the list of newly appointed members are Kevin Abernathy, California Dairy Campaign and Paul Martin, Western United Dairymen.

“Members of this task force are noted scientists and other experts in air quality as it pertains to agriculture,” Johanns said. “The selected individuals represent diverse interests and geography and they will provide excellent guidance to help USDA deal with agricultural air quality issues effectively.”

Keep An Eye Out For Parasites

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

Wisconsin Milk Marketing BoardSince it’s fall Merial says it’s time to keep on the lookout for parasites in lactating dairy cows.

Fall is an important time for parasite control in dairy cattle. Worms, mange and lice present a threat to every dairy operation. They are doing their damage long before outward signs appear by causing depressed immune response, and reduced appetite and dry matter intake, which can result in decreased production.

“Fall and winter are the times of year when producers most often see clinical signs of parasitism,” says Dr. James Hawkins, associate director of Merial Large Animal Veterinary Professional Services. “However, waiting until you see signs like hair loss, rubbing and scratching is a mistake. Once you see the damage, you’ve already suffered a production loss.”

New Wisconsin Cheese Products

Chuck ZimmermanCheese, Dairy Group

Wisconsin Milk Marketing BoardWe can never have too many cheese products and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board just announced some new ones.

  • Beechwood Cheese Co., Uncle Charlie’s Chicken Soup Cheese, Chuckwagon Cheddar and Chipotle Ole – Beechwood Cheese Co. uses traditional Wisconsin cheesemaking methods to craft some of the state’s most unconventional cheese varieties. These uncommon cheeses – with off-beat names – recently caught the attention of Jamie and Bobby Deen, stars of the Food Network’s new program, “Road Tasted.”
  • VOD Gourmet LLC, WhiskeyBLUE™, WhineyBLUE™ and Asiago Fresco GINBERRY™ – VOD Gourmet has partnered with one of Wisconsin’s outstanding cheese manufacturers, Roth Käse, to create two spirited Blue cheeses featuring smoky Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey and smooth California Port Wine. Asiago Fresco GINBERRY™ is another VOD Gourmet Wisconsin Cheese masterpiece aged with imported European juniper berries.

    • Read More

    CWT Export Assistance Bids

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Export

    Cooperatives Working TogetherHere’s the latest announcement from Cooperatives Working Together:

  • Cooperatives Working Together announced today (Monday, Oct. 2) that it accepted two export assistance bids last week for the sale of cheese. Both bids are from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO: one for the export of 29 metric tons (63,800 pounds) of mixed cheeses to Israel; and another for 18 metric tons (39,600 lbs.) of white Cheddar cheese to Morocco. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the cheese shipments is verified.

    • I meant to post it last week but was out of town and it slipped by me. I don’t see that any were reported this week.

    World Ag Expo at World Dairy Expo

    Chuck ZimmermanAudio, Farm Show

    Jerry Sinift - World Ag ExpoNed Arthur attended the World Ag Expo breakfast at World Dairy Expo and interviewed general manager Jerry Sinift. We sure have a lot of Expos don’t we?

    Jerry was there to talk about what’s coming up after the first of the year at the 40th World Ag Expo.

    You can listen to Ned’s interview with Jerry here: Listen To MP3 Jerry Sinift Interview (4 min MP3)