Select Sires Has Fourteen New Holstein Graduates

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

Select SiresThe latest news from Select Sires.

Select Sires introduced an updated lineup of 91 Holstein bulls featuring 14 new graduates – more than any other stud – to dairy producers after reviewing the USDA quarterly release of genetic evaluations Feb. 13. The spectacular lineup features sons of the popular sire fathers 7HO5375 Mara-Thon BW MARSHALL-ET and 7HO5157 Regancrest Elton DURHAM-ET*CV.

“Our new DURHAM*CV sons follow in their sire’s footsteps to produce stylish, hard-working and long-lasting daughters, and Select has the largest group of BW MARSHALL sons available. All of Select’s new graduates offer an outstanding and broad variety of genetic options for our customers,” said Blaine Crosser, vice president of dairy sire product line and sales management for Select Sires.

You Say You Want An Alfalfa Revolution

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

NK BrandIt looks like you can quite literally liberate your alfalfa from weeds. Some new NK Brand varieties have been announced.

Forage producers now have the opportunity to free their fields from weeds with Liberator and Revolution alfalfa, the first NK Brand alfalfa varieties with Roundup Ready technology. This new alfalfa technology is currently available from NK Brand dealers. In addition to liberating alfalfa fields from weed competition, Liberator combines outstanding genetic potential with very fast recovery and strong persistence to maximize performance in three-, four- and five-cut systems. It is well-suited for all major alfalfa forage production areas where fall dormancy-rated ‘2’ to ‘5’ varieties are planted, which is most of the United States.

In non-dormant growing areas, where the technology is already revolutionizing alfalfa production, Revolution is the first NK Brand alfalfa variety with RR technology. It is well adapted for forage production areas where fall dormancy-rated ‘7’ to ‘9’ varieties are planted, specifically central and southern California, and southern coastal areas. Revolution combines excellent early growth and rapid recovery characteristics with tremendous yield potential for more tons of weed-free alfalfa produced per acre.

Developed especially for alfalfa producers who use top management programs, Liberator and Revolution fit well into the NK Brand Dairy Ration Fit system. Ration Fit helps assess the herd’s nutritional needs and customize forage selection for optimal milk production, milk fat and protein content.

More Bids Accepted By CWT

Chuck ZimmermanCheese, Dairy Group, Export, Industry News

Cooperatives Working TogetherIt seems like Cooperatives Working Together is really working together. Their latest announcement came out with DFA participating.

Cooperatives Working Together announced Tuesday (last week) that it has accepted two bids from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO: one to export 19.3 metric tons (42,500 pounds) of Mozzarella cheese to Taiwan, and a second bid of .248 metric tons (545 pounds) of consumer-wrapped Mozzarella cheese to Panama. CWT will pay the export bonus to the bidder, once completion of the cheese shipments is verified.

Both shipments are to countries that previously have not received product sold through CWT. These accepted bids increase CWT’s total cheese exports since it began operations two years ago to 4,916 tons (or 10.8 million pounds), and CWT’s total butter exports to 590 tons (1.3 million pounds). Previous shipments facilitated by CWT’s export assistance program have gone to Algeria, Barbados, Croatia, Egypt, Honduras, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Trinidad.

76th Annual Hoard’s Dairyman Cow Judging Contest

Chuck ZimmermanCompetition, Media

Hoard's DairymanFrom Andy Vance at Buckeye Ag Radio Network:

I just got my official Entry Blank! If you subscribe to Hoard’s you already have the different classes – five in all – that will be evaluated to determine this year’s contest winners. If you’re like me and missed a couple of issues, you can email hoards@hoards.com to request reprints of each class. You will evaluate four head each of fine Brown Swiss, Holstein, Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Jersey cattle. Each class provides you with profile, rear udder, and rear tailhead perspectives from which to place the class. The deadline for entries in the 76th annual contest is March 23rd, and the contest is open in both individuals and teams of four, with each contestant placed in either the Senior; Junior; 4-H Club, FFA Chapter, or College Team; Family; and Ag Ed Instructor divisions. Winners will be selected in each division, with prizes of up to $100 for the winner in each division. In all, over 26 cash awards will be presented. I’ve just finished placing my classes, and I’ll probably study them for at least another week before finally settling on my final card and mailing the entry. Good luck, and be sure to let me know what you think of each class by posting your comments here!

Have You Wanted An iPod

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Promotion, Video

New Holland If you’ve wanted to own an Apple video iPod then here’s your chance. It’s the New Holland “Down on the Farm” Classic iPod Keepsake Contest. One lucky winner will be drawn to win a new 30GB video iPod. The contest starts now and will run through March 15 with the winner being announced here and on all ZimmComm blogs on March 20, National Agriculture Day.

In case you’re not familiar with the Commodity Classic, it’s the combined annual meeting and trade show of the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association. Both organizations with an impact on the dairy industry. I’m sure there will be some news of interest for you.

I’ll be blogging the 2006 Commodity Classic and all the pictures I take and video and audio I record will be pre-loaded onto the iPod. One of those things will be country music star Michael Peterson’s performance that’s being sponsored by New Holland. Once we know who the winner is Michael will record a personal message which we’ll also load onto the iPod. And, there’s more. We’ll also load Michael’s newest CD, “Down on the Farm,” which you can currently only purchase from your local New Holland dealer. It won’t be out in stores until later this spring.

So, here’s how you enter. We’ve got an online form that you’ll need to fill out and just click on the submit button when done. There’s only a few questions. It’s fast and then you’re entered. You’ll get a confirmation email so that you know you’ve been entered. Or, if you’re at Classic, you can stop by the New Holland booth and enter there.

Hot Rod Milk

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Milk, Promotion

Bravo ProductsThe Indy Racing League may be moving to ethanol to power their cars but drag racers are fueling up with milk! At least Erica Enders, who races for Cagnazzi Racing’s NHRA Pro Stock Team is drinking a lot of milk. She just had her sponsorship by Bravo! Foods International Corp. renewed and expanded. Last year, Slammers Ultimate Milk sponsored the second half of the season. This year, Slammers Ultimate Milk will be the primary sponsor of Enders’ Chevy Cobalt Pro Stock racer for the full 23-race 2006 season, building on what was started in 2005.

The 22-year-old Enders, who has already established a series of firsts for women in the Pro Stock class, has her eyes set on even bigger accomplishments this year and is “the” driver to watch for the 2006 season. In addition to her racing representation of Slammers Ultimate Milk, Enders will be making multiple appearances across the country for Slammers and the team at schools, Girl Scout conferences, hospitals, charity benefits and retailers, where she will be greeting fans, signing autographs and talking about the benefits of performing at your peak and drinking “better for you” Slammers Ultimate Milk.

Do You Have a Dairy Farm Succession Plan

Chuck ZimmermanEducation, Government

USDA grant money is helping provide a Wisconsin workshop on Farm Succession and Estate and Retirement Planning. The event will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at the Public Events Building in the Arlington Agricultural Research Station. It is scheduled from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and farm families are encouraged to attend. It is co-sponsored by a USDA Dairy Revitalization Grant, UW-Extension-Columbia County, and MATC.

Joy Kirkpatrick, UW Center for Dairy Profitability, and Laura Paine, UWEX Agriculture Agent for Columbia County will begin the workshop with a presentation on the importance of communication in successful planning, and getting started – issues specific to farmers. Alan Strohschein, attorney with Stoltz, Strohschein & Green, Columbus, Wisconsin, will speak about the legal side of estate and retirement planning (wills, probate, trusts and business set-up). Strohschein works extensively with farmers on these issues, among others. Kathleen K. Martin, CPA, Manager for Tax Services, RSM McGladrey, Inc., will focus on strategies for minimizing taxation. Financial planning, how to choose a financial planner, and financial options for investing off the farm will be addressed by Andrew Seaborg and Mark Strassburger, Partners in the Capitol Group, Madison.

The registration fee will be $10 for the first family member, and $5 for each additional farm family member. For additional information, call Laura Paine at 608-742-9682.

Future Dairy School in Wisconsin May “mooo-ve” More Dairies to Wisconsin

Chuck ZimmermanIndustry News

Buckeye Radio NetworkNews from Andy Vance at the Buckeye Ag Radio Network.

Although it may not be the statistical leader of the dairy industry, Wisconsin is certainly THE dairy state in the hearts and minds of the consuming public. But that may change if dairies continue to dwindle. To combat the shrinking number of dairies and dairymen in the state, farmers, businessmen, and educators are working to develop a $10.2 million training facility to develop producers who are confident they have the skills to start and maintain profitable dairy businesses.

The Wausau area Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with several area agribusinesses, the Northcentral Technical College and local farmers is in the planning stage of an educational school called Dairyland State Academy. The academy, which would annually graduate 30 potential entrepreneurs, will offer one and two year Associates degrees, potentially to students who would transfer on to a four year institution. The most compelling aspect of the project is that the Academy will be a working Wisconsin dairy farm.

In a state where dairy production and processing adds $20.6 billion to the economy, the business model makes sense. Even though the sector employs over 78,000 workers, those jobs are slipping, particularly as a generation of farmers begins to retire with no successor in place. In fact, the outmovement is significant enough that 15% of the state’s milk for processing is now imported. The Dairyland State Academy aims to attract and train folks to replace those entrepreneurs and build new dairy businesses in the region. These future dairy professionals will learn to raise livestock, produce milk, grow crops, and run a business, all through the operation of a profitable dairy herd on site, with additional learning on cooperating area farms and in local processing facilities.

The Dairyland State Academy Task Force is planning the project, expected to open in fall 2007, as a producer driven, non-profit foundation. Five farmers lead the Task Force, alongside bankers, the local Feed Mill proprietor, Chamber of Commerce executives, and Extension and University educators.

To view the full vision/business plan, click http://marathon.uwex.edu/ag/documents/DSAProspectus05.pdf