Pioneer Hi-Bred Introduces First Dairy Podcast

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 5, 2006Agribusiness, Forage Forum, Pioneer Hi-Bred

Announcing the first podcast for dairy producers.

Pioneer Hi-Bred introduces a regular podcast called “Forage Forum.” This twice a month program will feature news and information important to dairy professionals working for successful animal nutrition. The program is hosted by award winning farm broadcaster, Cindy Zimmerman, my partner and wife. She’ll be interviewing some of Pioneer’s best and brightest to bring you information that will help you become more efficient and profitable. Since we’re “pioneering” this program and method of delivering you audio content we would like to have your feedback. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and will help us to develop the program.

If you’re not sure what a podcast is or how to subscribe to it then visit our “How To Subscribe To Forage Forum” page.

US Grains Council Opens Chinese Dairy Training Center

Andy VanceJuly 5, 2006Export, International, Markets, Promotion

Less than two hours drive from Beijing, US farmers are building demand for corn and soybeans by encouraging development of the Chinese dairy industry. Much as they have done with the poultry industries of countries like Morrocco and others, the US Grains Council is working to build demand for feed grains by training livestock producers in potentially lucrative overseas markets. The Chinese dairy industry is expected to supply over 40 million tons of milk a cheese by decade’s end, more than doubling current demand. In order to produce such a volume, more cows are necessary, higher efficiency in production is necessary, and more highly skilled producers are necessary. To that end, USGC unveiled the US-Sino Dairy Management Training Center. Located on a 620 cow dairy (looking to expand to 2000 cows by the end of 2007), the center is operated in cooperation with local dairy firm China Genetics. Current production per cow is barely over 11,000 lbs, supported by diets of poor local forage. By introducing concentrate-based diets and TMRs, USGC hopes to add over 1.5 million tons of corn demand each year. The center will host seminars on sound animal husbandry, quality forage production, and animal nutrition, among others.

Accelerated Genetics YP Summer Meltdown

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 5, 2006Accelerated Genetics, Agribusiness, Genetics

The Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Summer Meltdown took place recently in Fond Du Lac, WI. Here’s a picture of them at one of the stops on the program. You can find out more about this year’s program on their website.

The summer meltdown is part of the Accelerated Genetics Young Producer Program, which allows dairy producers to network and exchange ideas while learning more about the dairy industry. Young Producers can look forward to the next event, which will be the Fall Conference held November 11-12, 2006 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Ralph Keeling Award Nominations Open

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 5, 2006Dairy Group

If you know of someone involved in the dairy industry in Iowa who you feel has done an outstanding job then consider nominating them for the Ralph Keeling Leadership Award. This award program is coordinated by the Iowa State Dairy Association. You can find the nominating for here. Nominations are due by July 14.

Nominations are open to educators, industry, or producers in the dairy field who have significantly contributed to the progress of Iowa’s dairy industry.

The award is given in honor of the late Ralph Keeling. Keeling operated a successful dairy farm and business, devoting much of his time and talents to help the progress of the state’s dairy industry. Since 1967, this award has been presented annually to outstanding individuals in various fields of Iowa’s dairy industry. Presentation of the award will take place at noon on Friday, August 11th in the Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Patty Judge, and Iowa State Dairy Association President, Scott Niess, will present the award.

Happy 4th of July To You

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 3, 2006General

We wish you and your family a very happy 4th of July celebration.

Stay safe and enjoy the fireworks wherever you are.

We’ll have more news on Wednesday.

Promoting Each Other's Shows

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 3, 2006Dairy Group

The IDFA is going to be taking an active role in the American Beverage Association’s InterBev 2006 this fall and conversely, the ABA is going to be doing the same for IDFA’s Worldwide Food Expo next year in Chicago.

As part of the alliance, both ABA and IDFA will promote each other’s events with their membership and stakeholders, and will also offer exclusive programming at each event geared toward beverage and dairy audiences. The associations will each host prominent pavilions at the other’s show.

See full release here.

Hershey's Milk From Burger King

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 3, 2006Dairy Group, Milk, Promotion

Healthy servings of milk are now available from Burger King in re-sealable, 8-ounce plastic bottles.

The new milk offerings will be promoted as a beverage option with a Kids Meal, aand will be a permanent beverage menu option for all customers. With 86 percent of all take-out meals coming from quick-serve restaurants, the new milk option gives BURGER KING a prime opportunity to help more families get their three servings of dairy a day, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Checkoff dollars from dairy producers helped get this program going with Burger King. Tests were conducted last year, showing that customers would choose milk more often when offered in fun, attractive packaging and in different flavors.

“We introduced Hershey’s low-fat white and chocolate milk to add even more variety to our menu,” said John Schaufelberger, vice president of product marketing for Burger King Corporation. “It’s a well-known brand that appeals to moms and kids – and the plastic packaging is especially convenient for busy, on-the-go families.”

Get the rest of the story from the Midwest Dairy Association.

CWT Export Assistance Bids

Chuck ZimmermanJuly 3, 2006Export, International

I know I’ve been away for a couple weeks and posting hasn’t been normal but that’s all changed. Look for some exciting new information coming out on Wednesday! Here’s last week’s announcements from Cooperatives Working Together:

Cooperatives Working Together announced Friday that it has accepted two export assistance bids for the sale of butter. The bids are from WestFarm Foods of Seattle, WA: one for the export of 250 metric tons (550,000 pounds) of butter to Saudi Arabia, and a second in the amount of 25 metric tons (55,000 lbs.) for export to Russia. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the butter shipments is verified.

Cooperatives Working Together announced Thursday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the sale of anhydrous milkfat. The bid is from Select Milk Producers of Artesia, NM, for the export of 100 metric tons (220,000 pounds) of anhydrous milkfat to Qatar. CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the milkfat shipment is verified. This is the first CWT-approved export to Qatar.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanJune 30, 2006Dairyline, Markets

Dairy Markets Week in Review

Cash block cheese closed the last Friday of June Dairy Month at $1.1725 per pound, down a quarter-cent on the week, and 37 1/2-cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.1650, unchanged on the week, but 34 1/4-cents below a year ago. Twelve cars of block traded hands and none of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price hit $1.2002, down 0.1 cent. Barrel averaged $1.2027, down 0.6 cent.

Butter closed Friday at $1.15, down a quarter-cent on the week, and 53 1/2-cents below a year ago. Four cars sold. NASS butter averaged $1.1486, down slightly.

Price support purchases this week totaled 1.7 million pounds of nonfat dry milk. That put the cumulative total at 65.3 million, compared to 31.8 million a year ago.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Dairy May Be Heart Healthy

Chuck ZimmermanJune 30, 2006Industry News, Nutrition

Some new research suggests that eating low-fat dairy products could lower your blood pressure. That’s according to research reported in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Millions of Americans are affected by high blood pressure (HBP), and it is a major risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and heart failure. HBP also incurs higher health care costs.

Non-drug approaches to lowering blood pressure include exercise, weight loss and the well-known Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which is low in salt and rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. The DASH diet is also rich in the minerals potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are found in dairy products.

However, studies on calcium have had inconsistent results, with several showing no effect on blood pressure, said Luc Djoussé, M.D., M.P.H., D.Sc., lead author of the study and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.