Great Superfund Manure Editorial

Andy VanceGovernment, Production

Steven Milloy, publisher of JunkScience.com and a regular contributor to FoxNews.com, wrote a fabulous editorial slamming the environmentalists who are demanding Congress refuse to clarify the Superfund legislation to “exempt” manure. The basis for the discussion is the Superfund law, which, among other things, proposes multi-million dollar penalties for dumping industrial waste. The original law did not specifically exempt animal agriculture, and now a coalition of agriculture organizations is working to clarify the law so that manure is not considered industrial waste. The anti-agriculture environmental activists, however, want Superfund to apply to agriculture so they can haul farmers before the courts and let out-of-control judges apply the draconian, to quote Milloy, penalties to family farms.

The editorial is a stinging indictment of both the scientifically bereft anti-ag crowd and the inequities of the Superfund law. Read it and you’ll find a much better grasp of the argument.

It's Dairy Month (in case you forgot)

Chuck ZimmermanPromotion

Iowa State Dairy AssociationYou know we have to mention the fact that it’s Dairy Month. The first organization to alert us to this fact is the Iowa State Dairy Association. Way to go. They want everyone to know that, “The ISDA is proud to represent the hard-working dairy farm families of Iowa for all they do to produce high-quality products and for all their contributions to Iowa’s economy.”

So where else can you find dairy month information? Here’s a few places:
June is Dairy Month

  • Census Bureau Release: They mention two festivals which are, Harvard Milk Days and the Great Wisconsin Cheese Festival. Of course they have lots of facts and figures relating to dairy for you too like these. Of all the foods we eat, dairy products top the list at nearly 600 pounds for each of us annually. Americans consume an average of 23 gallons of milk and 31 pounds of cheese each year.
  • How about the Midwest Dairy Association? They have a new website with lots of interesting information.
  • Laugh about it with the Laughing Gas Comedy Improv Theatre Company in Miami. “”We love milk,” said cast member Todd Rice. “Regular, 2%, 1%, skim, they’re all great. And those skim cows are tough to milk.”

    • CWT Export Assistance Bids

    Chuck ZimmermanExport, International

    Cooperatives Working TogetherOkay, I’m a little behind. I did spend a lot of the last week in Indianapolis with the Team Ethanol though. So here’s last week’s announcements from Cooperatives Working Together:

  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the export of cheese. The 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 export bonuses to the bidder, once completion of the cheese shipment is verified.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Tuesday that it has accepted an export assistance bid for the export of butter. The bid is from California Dairies of Artesia, CA, for the export of 144 metric tons (317,800 pounds) of butter to Nicaragua. CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidder, once completion of the butter shipment is verified. This is the first CWT-facilitated export to Nicaragua.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Thursday that it has accepted five export assistance bids for the export of butter, cheese and milk powder. The first two bids are from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, MN: one for the export of 91 metric tons (200,200 pounds) of butter to Hong Kong, and a second for the export of 80 metric tons (176,000 lbs.) of butter to Honduras. CWT also accepted a third bid from Land O’Lakes, for the export of 20 metric tons (44,000 lbs.) of Mozzarella cheese to Mexico. The fourth bid accepted is from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO, to export 19.2 metric tons (42,240 lbs.) of Cheddar cheese to Japan. The fifth accepted bid, from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA, is for the export of 220 metric tons (484,000 lbs.) of whole milk powder to Mexico. CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidder, once completion of the cheese, butter and powder shipments is verified.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Friday that it has accepted two export assistance bids for the export of butter. The bids are from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, MN: one for the export of 390 metric tons (858,000 pounds) of butter to the United Arab Emirates, and a second in the amount of 20 metric tons (44,000 lbs.) to Oman. CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidder, once completion of the butter shipments is verified. These are the first CWT-facilitated exports to those two Middle Eastern nations.

    • West Coast Dairy Golf

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group

    Western United DairymenBoy do I wish I could play golf next week. The Western United Dairymen will be though. Registration is underway for the 4th Annual Western United Dairymen Federal PAC Golf Tournament Fundraiser Tuesday, June 6, at the award-winning Diablo Grande Golf Course.

    Last year’s event drew nearly 120 golfers to raise funds in support of the WUD’s federal political action committee. The event will begin with registration at 11:15 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12:45 p.m. Awards and prizes will be presented at the post-tournament dinner. The golf course was designed by golf legends Jack Nicklaus and Gene Sarazen and is part of the Diablo Grande Winery & Resort in the hills southwest of Patterson in Stanislaus County.

    Check out the golf course here.

    WDBA Press Conference Held

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Policy

    Wisconsin Dairy Business AssociationThe Wisconsin Dairy Business Association press conference we alerted you to yesterday has now been held. Thanks to Dana Pronschinske for the follow up information. Here’s a summary of what happened.

    Citing reform of federal dairy policy as a top priority, the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association, representing dairy farm families, joined with industry experts and producers to urge Chairman Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) and members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Dairy, Nutrition and Forestry to help fix what is badly broken with regard to U.S. dairy policies. The press conference was held just prior to the dairy field hearing in Winona, Minnesota on Wednesday, May 31, 2006.

    WIDBA Press ConferenceIn commending the Chairman and members of the subcommittee for convening the field hearing, John Vrieze, president of the Wisconsin Dairy Business Association (pictured) noted that “the complexity and importance of federal dairy policy warrants the creation of a new Farm Bill that will encourage innovation, efficiency, profitability and market access for all producers and processors.” Vrieze continued that, “our organization comprised of dairy farm families, cooperatives, agricultural lenders and manufacturers recognize we are at a critical moment in history whereby fundamental reform is essential for the long-term health of our industry.” Read More

    IA State Dairy Farm Under Construction

    Chuck ZimmermanUniversity

    Iowa StateIt looks like construction has started on the new Iowa State University dairy farm south of Ames and officials look forward to opening the facility in 2007. The ground breaking was held this spring.

    Iowa State Dairy Farm“We are beginning an important new chapter in dairy science at Iowa State and for the state of Iowa,” said Wendy Wintersteen, dean of ISU’s College of Agriculture. “The Dairy/Animal Science Education and Discovery Facility will elevate Iowa State into the top tier of institutions with educational and research facilities devoted to progress in dairy science and animal science.”     Read More

    Dairy Policy Press Conference Planned

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Policy

    Wisconsin Dairy Business AssociationThe Wisconsin Dairy Business Association will be conducting a press conference tomorrow to discuss how things are going in the dairy industry. It will be held at Winona State University.

    The Wisconsin Dairy Business Association joined by dairy experts and producers will hold a press conference prior to the start of the House Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing to discuss the current state of the dairy industry and why the 2007 Farm Bill is critical for reforming federal dairy policy. Representing dairy farm families as well as processing entities, cooperatives, agricultural lenders and rural leaders, DBA will also unveil specific principles to reenergize the dairy industry and enable producers to compete in the marketplace.

    WHO: John Vrieze — President, Wisconsin Dairy Business Association, Dr. Robert Cropp — Professor, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin, Director, Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, Dana Allen, PhD — Minnesota Diary Producer; Testifying on behalf of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association

    Milk And The Indy Winner

    Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Promotion

    Sam Hornish, Jr. Wins Indy 500I had hoped to have taken this picture myself since I was attending the Indy 500 but my credentials didn’t allow me in to get the photo. So this one is courtesy of the Indy Racing League.

    Once again though milk is featured at the greatest spectacle in racing as you see Sam Hornish, Jr. tipping a bottle. After a swallow he doused himself in the cold beverage. It was a hot day on the track. I was there covering the event on our sister site, Domestic Fuel.

    The milk was delivered to Victory Lane this year by Steve Phares and Merrill Kelsay who serve on the board of the Milk Promotion Services of Indiana.

    Boehringer Ingelheim Introduces Suite of New Products

    Andy VanceAgribusiness, Nutrition, Production

    Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica is offering several products of benefit to the dairy industry, including Vovikalc calcium boluses, Daque nutritional supplements for calves, Stocker insecticide ear tags, and Breed-Back FP for BVD.

    Bovikalc is a unique bolus formulation of calcium that provides for both fast and extended sustained serum calcium levels. This oral mineral nutritional supplement provides a source of calcium for use in freshening cows, featuring two sources of calcium designed to ninimize irritation and waste, while reducing risk of aspiration pneumonia in and easy to administer formula.

    Diaque is a nutritional supplement providing a source of energy and electrolytes for young animals. It is a unique formula containing a patented hydrophobic citrus fiber and a three-step buffering system that allows it to be fed with milk. Highly palatable and convenient, it can be fed with milk, milk replacer, or warm water. An excellent source of energy, Diaque contains a balanced electrolyte formula in an easy-to-use 3.5 oz packet or bulk pails that for easy mix and clean up.

    Stocker Insecticide Cattle Ear Tags are injection molded ear tags containing 20% diazinon or 2000 mg diazinon per tag, and applied with the Allflex Universal Total Tagger Applicator.

    Finally, while I was researching these new products, I discoverd Breed-Back FP for persistent BVD, and recalled our discussion late last week on the subject. There are several products available under the Breed-Back banner.

    Value of Dairy Products Boosts New Zealand Export Business

    Andy VanceButter, Cheese, Competition, Export, Markets, Milk

    Milk powder, butter, and cheese are hot commodities for the kiwi exporter. The latest report from Statistics New Zealand indicates that the export value of these products was up $209 for the month of April, a 54.5 percent jump over 2005. In total, these three products make up $592 million exported, or 19.6% of total exports for the island nation.

    These sales totals were the highest ever for an April month. The main contributor to the increase was milk powder, which was up $145 million (77.0 percent). The increase in exports of milk powder, butter and cheese was spread across many of New Zealand’s trading partners: Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates, the People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Iran and Jordan all showed increases exceeding $10 million since April 2005.