Celebrate National Ice Cream Month

Chuck ZimmermanIce Cream

National Ice Cream MonthSomehow I overlooked the fact that it’s National Ice Cream Month. It only makes sense when the weather turns hot that this nutritional treat would be where we turn for relief. This year National Ice Cream Day will be Sunday, July 16 so remember to celebrate.

According to the IDFA:

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90% of the nation’s population. In the proclamation, President Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

The U.S. ice cream industry generates more than $21 billion in annual sales and provides jobs for thousands of citizens. About 9% of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, contributing significantly to the economic well-being of the nation’s dairy industry.

You can also find a lot of good information at Ice Cream USA (Breyers).

Confident Aussie Dairy Farmers

Chuck ZimmermanInternational, Research

Dairy AustraliaIt looks like dairy farmers in Australia are feeling pretty good. A new report by Dairy Australia called “Dairy 2006: Situation & Outlook” shows dairy farmers are more positive with more than half planning to increase production over the next three years.

Produced by Dairy Australia, the report is part of the industry’s collaborative strategy to review, assess and plan its future based on sound information. Situation & Outlook incorporates the opinions of more than 1300 farmers who participated in the National Dairy Farmer Survey earlier this year, helping build a comprehensive assessment of the industry’s current status. Dairy companies, farm consultants and others also provided valuable information.

The full report, Dairy 2006: Situation & Outlook, is available on www.dairyaustralia.com.au.

Should Ice Cream Be Hot

Chuck ZimmermanIce Cream

When I think ice cream, I think cool, soothing, sweet but certainly not hot and fiery. So I just can’t imagine an ice cream named “Cold Sweat.” That’s a new flavor from a company called Sunny Ski’s in North Carolina. According to all the stories floating around on the internet the company requires you to sign a waiver to order it.

It apparently contains several different brands of extremely hot sauce. Read more about it here and take their poll to find out if you would actually try this.

Select Sires SMS Conference 2006

Chuck ZimmermanGenetics

Select Sires SMS Conference 2006Here’s the group that just participated in the Select Sires Select Mating Service (SMS) Conference.

Each year SMS evaluators meet to discuss new technologies, recent trends and view progeny of current and potential Select sires, all with the customer in mind. NorthStar Cooperative Inc., Lansing, Mich., coordinated this year’s conference which was held in Wisconsin. “This year’s conference stands out as one of the best ever. In each and every herd we saw young cows with near-perfect udders and feet and legs, plus we had the privilege to meet outstanding dairy producers that are proud of their breeding programs,” said Lon Peters, vice president dairy sire products and services for Select Sires. “The ability to see these daughters is extremely valuable in providing this staff of genetic consultants the knowledge that can enhance their ability to assist dairy producers around the world to breed better cows.” The first day of the conference included educational seminars presented by Select’s sire department and marketing staff, as well as Ron Long, consultant from Merial Limited.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

The cash dairy market saw continued weakness in the holiday-shortened week. Block cheese closed Friday at $1.16 per pound, down 1 1/4-cents on the week, and 39 cents below a year ago. Barrel closed Friday at $1.15, down 1 1/2-cents on the week, and 35 3/4-cents below a year ago. Eight cars of block traded hands on the week and none of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price lost a penny, slipping to $1.1902. Barrel averaged $1.1886, down 1.4 cents. Butter closed Friday at $1.1525, up a quarter-cent on the week, but 48 cents below a year ago. Only two cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.1254, down 2.3 cents. There were no price support purchases this week.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

New Officers For WDPA

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group

Wisconsin Dairy Products AssociationThe Wisconsin Dairy Products Association has some new leadership. At their Dairy Symposium which was just held in Galena, IL, the following people were elected as officers for 2007:

PRESIDENT: Greg Kinate, Kineva Foods
VICE PRESIDENT: Joe Weis, Foremost Farms USA
TREASURER: Jim Bleick, Graf Creamery
SECRETARY: Dennis Donohue, Manitowoc Milk Producers

In addition, four members were newly elected to the Board of Directors for three year terms. They are:
Deborah Van Dyk, Schreiber Foods
Doug Dieterich, Galloway Company
Dennis Donohue, Manitowoc Milk Producers
Marigold Foods rep

Two other members were approved for three-year terms:
Jim Bleick, Graf Creamery
Joe Weis, Foremost Farms, USA

CWT Export Assistance Bids

Chuck ZimmermanExport, International

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

  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the sale of cheese, the last approved during CWT’s third fiscal year, which ended June 30th, 2006. The bid is from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, for the export of 19 metric tons (41,800 pounds) of Mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheese to Mexico. The bid was accepted late last Friday, and is the last CWT-facilitated cheese export to Mexico, as CWT’s trial program of cheese exports to that country ended last month. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the cheese shipment is verified. The CWT Export Assistance Task Force will review the effectiveness of cheese exports to Mexico later in the summer. Until then, CWT will continue to fund export bonuses only for butter and milkfat products, as well as whole milk powder, to Mexico.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Thursday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the sale of cheese. The bid is from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, for the export of 46 metric tons (101,200 pounds) of Mozzarella cheese to Saudi Arabia. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the cheese shipment is verified.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Friday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the sale of butter. The bid is from Dairigold Inc. (formerly WestFarm Foods) of Seattle, WA, for the export of 25 metric tons (55,000 pounds) of butter to Russia. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the butter shipment is verified.

    • Young Holstein Breeders Award

    Chuck ZimmermanHolstein Association

    Holstein Hacketts Spencer and Stacey Hackett, Rice, Minn., have been selected as the 2005 Distinguished Young Holstein Breeders by the Holstein Association USA, Inc.

    The Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder award was started in 1988 to recognize significant accomplishments of young Registered Holstein breeders. It is one of the highest honors that the Holstein Association can bestow upon a member. The purpose of the Distinguished Young Holstein Breeder award is to encourage young dairy producers to establish goals that will aid in their management decisions and that will help them achieve a profitable dairy operation with Registered Holsteins, and to motivate other dairy producers to achieve similar goals by creating the awareness of the successes young breeders have had with Registered Holsteins.

    The Hacketts milk 135 Holsteins that average over 25,000 pounds of milk, 900 pounds of butterfat and 800 pounds of protein. They are pictured with their sons, Brook, left and Chris, right.

    Cutting Edge Alfalfa Chopping

    Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Audio, Forage Forum, Nutrition, Pioneer Hi-Bred

    Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastDr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred, weighs in on the recent interest in the dairy industry about how alfalfa can and should be chopped. The catalyst is the popularity of disk mowers, which allow chopping much lower to the ground. This can increase yields, but at what cost in stand longevity and forage quality?

    Bill summarizes timely research that indicates you can chop alfalfa low without cutting yourself short. Listen to these observations and let Bill know your thoughts. Listen To MP3 File Dr. Bill Mahanna on alfalfa chopping (3 min MP3)

    Forage Forum is a regular podcast which you can subscribe to on your computer. Visit our “How To Subscribe To Forage Forum” page for instructions.