Expo Dairy Product Contest Deadline

Chuck ZimmermanCompetition, Dairy Group, World Dairy Expo

Dairy Products ChampionshipThe World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest (say that 5 times real fast) entry deadline is coming up. Now’s the time to get yours in if you want to compete this year.

Friday, August 18 is the deadline date for returning all entry forms for the 2006 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. All entry forms must be sent to the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. by this date. Once a company has submitted all their entry forms, they must ship the actual contest entries during the week of August 28-September 1, 2006. Cheese, butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, fluid milk, buttermilk, sour cream, sour cream-based dips and whipping cream entries should be sent to the Morningstar Foods Distribution Center in Madison, WI. Ice cream, sherbet, dried whey products and creative/innovative technology entries should be shipped to UW-Madison, Babcock Hall.

Contest judging will take place on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, September 6 –MATC Culinary Arts School – cheese and butter
  • Thursday, September 7 –MATC Culinary Arts School – yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, fluid milk, buttermilk, sour cream-based dips and whipping cream.
  • Friday, September 8 – UW Madison Babcock Hall – ice cream, sherbet, dried whey products and creative/innovative technologies


    • For more information on the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest, please contact the Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. at 608.836.3336, via email at info@wdpa.net or visit their website.

    Australian Biotech Conference Features Dairy

    Chuck ZimmermanBiotech, Government, International

    Victoria, AustraliaThere’s a big biotechnology conference going on in Australia this week. I was invited to attend but have to be in Kansas City and then on to Norway. Darn the luck, eh?

    But that doesn’t mean I can’t let you know what’s happening down under. Here’s an interesting story.

    Victorian scientists are using the latest DNA techniques to fast track the breeding of better, more productive and more profitable dairy cattle. Minister for Innovation, John Brumby announced today Victorian scientists from the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) were using the sequencing of the bovine genome, along with genotyping technologies, to find the genes that cause variations in the economic value of cattle.

    “Thanks to this research, we can now tell, as soon as a bull calf is born, whether or not it carries the desirable genes to improve profitability,” said Mr Brumby. “Our scientists can cut the breeding in dairy cattle, from four to two years.”

    “We anticipate that this research will enable Victorian dairy farmers to double the rate of improvement in the profitability of dairy animals.” The Victorian dairy industry accounts for 13 per cent of world trade in dairy products, with the State’s prime export markets being Asia and Europe.

    Swissrose International To Fairmount From ConAgra

    Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Cheese, Imports, International

    Fairmount Food GroupHow do you become the “largest U. S. importer or specialty cheeses? Buy up a bunch of companies. That’s what Fairmount Food Group is doing.

    Bing Graffunder, CEO of Fairmount Food Group, LLC, today announced the acquisition of Swissrose International, Inc., the specialty and food service cheese business of ConAgra Foods Inc. The transaction creates the largest U.S. importer and marketer of specialty and deli-style cheeses and is the fifth cheese industry acquisition for the Dallas-based investment firm and its equity sponsor, GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC.

    “The addition of Swissrose to our recent acquisitions of DCI Cheese Company, Carter Meister, Green Bay Cheese and G&G Foods is a very significant transaction and a major step toward expanding our branded offerings and delivering our customers the very best products and service,” said Graffunder. “With this acquisition we are more than doubling the size of our specialty cheese portfolio, expanding our U.S. presence from coast to coast and increasing our ability to more effectively serve our growing foodservice business.”

    Founded in 1938, Swissrose sells imported and specialty cheeses under brands that include: Joan of Arc, King’s Choice and a number of cheeses from Spain under the Queso Autentico de Espana brand, Chevrion goat cheese and Ilchester cheese from England. It also sells deli cheeses such as Swiss, cheddar and provolone under the County Line brand. Swissrose will continue to operate under its own identity and will report to Tim Omer, CEO of DCI Cheese Company.

    Proposed Cuts To WIC For Dairy

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Government

    USDAUSDA was in the news a lot today. Another story has to do with proposed cuts to the WIC program for dairy products. This has concerned the IDFA and NMPF. Since it’s only a proposal at this point there is a comment period open for the next 90 days.

    “We’re disappointed that budgetary constraints are leading USDA to a decision to cut the amount of dairy foods available to some of our neediest Americans,” said NMPF President and CEO Jerry Kozak. “Even under the current program, many WIC participants do not get recommended levels of key nutrients that are easily included in the diet with milk and cheese products. Those levels would be further diminished under this proposal.”

    “In its 2005 Dietary Guidelines, USDA recognized the need for women and children to get more calcium, potassium and magnesium in their diets; this proposal moves us in the opposite direction,” added IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton. “There is a very real, negative nutritional effect that a reduction in dairy servings would have on program participants.”

    New Risk Management Tools From USDA

    Chuck ZimmermanGovernment

    Risk Management AgencyI know some producers who would like to have the new risk management tools announced by USDA today, available this year!

    Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the availability of two new risk management tools for pasture, rangeland and forage, beginning with the 2007 crop year.

    “These new insurances tools will help farmers and ranchers, especially with operations located in drought impacted areas, to improve their risk management capabilities,” said Johanns. “Designed to operate in a variety of range and pasture environments, these products utilize innovative technology to determine when a producer has suffered a loss.” 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 Friday that it has accepted four export assistance bids for the sale of cheese and anhydrous milkfat. The first three bids are from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO: one for the export of 200 metric tons (440,000 pounds) of anhydrous milkfat to Russia, one for the export of 18 metric tons (39,600 lbs.) of mixed cheese to Japan, and a third for the export of 18 metric tons (39,600 lbs.) of Mozzarella cheese to Saudi Arabia. The fourth bid is from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, MN, for the export of 40 metric tons (88,000 lbs.) of Mozzarella cheese to Taiwan. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, once completion of the cheese and milkfat shipments is verified.     Read More

    NAIS Names Interim Animal Tracking Database Participant

    Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Animal ID

    Schering-PloughThe animal ID business is heating up and Schering-Plough’s Global Animal Management division looks like it’s got a lead in the race.

    Global Animal Management, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schering-Plough Animal Health, announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has named the company as an interim animal tracking database participant for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). USDA administered an independent review of Global Animal Management’s Animal Tracker program, and has reported the system meets all requirements for participation in the interim/development phase.     Read More

    Dairyline Markets In Review

    Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

    DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

    Temperatures are up, milk production is down, and dairy product prices are rising, although the rebound has been reluctant in cheese. Cash block started the week jumping 3 3/4-cents but relapsed some and closed the first Friday in August at $1.1950 per pound, up 3 1/4-cents on the week, but still 20 3/4 cents below that week a year ago. Barrel closed Friday at $1.16, up 4 cents on the week, but 22 cents below a year ago. Sixteen cars of block traded hands this week and two of barrel. Meanwhile, the NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price hit $1.1530, down 0.2 cent. Barrel averaged $1.1285, down 1.9 cents.

    Cash butter closed Friday at $1.2850, up 8 1/2-cents on the week, but 44 1/2 cents below a year ago when butter jumped 14 cents to $1.73. Twenty eight cars were sold this week. NASS butter averaged $1.1428, up 1.5 cents.

    Provided courtesy of Dairyline.