WDPA Donation To PDPW

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Education

WDPA Donation to PDPWThe Wisconsin Dairy Products Association has made several donations with the net proceeds of its 2005 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest and Auction.

A $2,000 donation was made to the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin’s “I Believe” campaign, which was created to raise funds for PDPW’s Education Foundation.

According to WDPA Executive Director Brad Legreid, “This donation represents the support our processor members have for the dairy producers of this state. During the past 12 years, WDPA has devoted a portion of its annual conventions to producer issues and have heard presentations from various PDPW members. This donation acknowledges our past interaction with PDPW and our future support of their Education Foundation.” The PDPW Education Foundation was formed to provide education on key issues impacting the dairy industry, including youth and leadership development, environmental stewardship and biosecurity/food safety.

Pictured are PDPW Executive Director Shelly Mayer and WDPA Executive Director Brad Legreid.

In addition to this financial contribution, Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn. also made product donations to the Ronald McDonald House, Second Harvest Food Bank, MATC Culinary Arts School and the UW Food Science Dept.

Hope You Like What You're Reading

Chuck ZimmermanGeneral

As we’ve been developing World Dairy Diary the news and story ideas are rolling in. In fact, I’ve got a number more to post but running out of time this evening. I hope you like the news and information we’re bringing you. We’re always interested in feedback so don’t hesitate to post comments or offer suggestions.

Blogging is a new communications mechanism in the agricultural world and we’ve been at it for over a year now. Just in the last 2 months we’ve created blog sites for 6 different ag groups or companies. If you want to learn more about it please feel free to contact me.

Lot’s more to come!

2005 Wisconsin Dairy Statistics Record High

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Government

Wisconsin Ag StatisticsAccording to an announcement from the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, looking at the latest information from the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service, last year was a good year for the dairy industry.

Wisconsin’s dairy business recorded a record year on many fronts in 2005. Preliminary estimates show Wisconsin’s milk production grew to the 22.8 billion pound level. For the first time in seven years, Wisconsin’s milk production growth rate surpassed that of California. According to the USDA, Wisconsin marked a 3.5% increase, compared with California’s 3.0%. This substantial increase of 779 million pounds is the highest increase for Wisconsin in 20 years.

What’s more, Wisconsin ended 2005 with 3,000 more cows than were recorded in December 2004. Cow numbers in Wisconsin came in at 1.239 million head. According to the Wisconsin Ag Statistics Service, it has been 16 years since Wisconsin ended the year with more cows than the previous year.

New CFO At Alto Dairy

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business

Greg PolleschAlto Dairy announces a new CFO. His name is Greg Pollesch and this is his first week on the job.

Pollesch brings with him a 25 year track record of finance leadership in manufacturing the last three of those in agriculture. He will be leaving his position as Corporate Controller of Utica Energy, LLC in Oshkosh, Wis. As Alto Dairy’s new CFO, he will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining all financial systems, providing analysis and recommendations on business opportunities and process improvements as well as play an integral part of the strategic planning for the cooperative.

New Board Member For Accelerated Genetics

Chuck ZimmermanAccelerated Genetics, Agribusiness

Accelerated GeneticsOne of our sponsors, Accelerated Genetics just named a new member to their board. She’s Carol Anderson of Whitehall, WI. Carol represents District 4.

Re-elected to serve another 3-year term was Brian Brown of Belleville, WI representing District 8 and Allen Abraham of Darlington, WI representing District 7. The other members of the 2005-06 Board include: Dave Score ~ District 1, Dan Weisenbeck ~ District 2, Gary Eibergen ~ District 3, John McClelland, Jr. ~ District 5, Dennis Bell ~ District 6, Pete Kirchner ~ District 9, and Doug Thesing ~ District 10.

Every year the board votes on the new officer positions held within the board. This year the officers include: Chair of the Board – Dan Weisenbeck, First Vice Chair – Brian Brown, Second Vice Chair – Doug Thesing, and Secretary/Treasurer – John McClelland, Jr.

Yogurt Toothpaste Anyone

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Industry News

Have you ever considered brushing your teeth with yogurt? Me either. But you can. With some fairly expensive toothpaste from Breath Palette. Try the Smoothie Toothpaste Kit which comes in these flavors: Fresh Yogurt, Monkey Banana, Kiwi Fruit, Strawberry, Blueberry

They were featured in a story in today’s USA Today – “Yogurt cultivating unprecedented popularity.” The story also points to a bunch of other products containing yogurt from cereals to makeup.

Me, I think I’ll stick to some more traditional uses of yogurt for now. Besides, my wife would think it weird if I started using yogurt makeup.

NMPF Formally Supports FDA UF Milk Proposal

Chuck ZimmermanCheese, Dairy Group, Government, Milk

National Milk Producers FederationLast week the National Milk Producers Federation came out formally in support of a proposal by the FDA to “allow for the use of liquid ultrafiltered milk in the manufacture of standardized cheeses and cheese products.” According to their latest newsletter:

The use of UF milk has become more commonplace in the dairy sector, and the FDA has been considering for more than five years how best to update cheese production standards to reflect industry practices.

The approach endorsed by NMPF would only allow for liquid UF milk to be permitted in standardized cheeses, not dry forms of milk protein concentrates. NMPF did oppose the part of the FDA proposal which would require that cheeses made with UF milk filtered off of a cheese processing site be labeled as containing that ingredient, while cheeses made with UF milk filtered on-site not have to be labeled. Such a distinction is “not justified by established FDA precedent, provides no benefit to consumers, is impracticable to implement,’ NMPF wrote.

A full copy of NMPF’s comments, which was filed jointly with the International Dairy Foods Association, is available here.

NMPF Announces Senior Staff Restructuring

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group

National Milk Producers FederationIt’s promotion time at the National Milk Producers Federation. They announced some senior management changes today as part of a reorganization effort.

Tom Balmer, previously Senior Vice President, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. Balmer is responsible for finance and administration, economic and market research services, and membership services of NMPF.

Jaime Castaneda has been promoted to Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Trade. He will oversee all of NMPF’s lobbying and federal relations activities, in addition to working on NMPF’s trade policy programs. In his new role, Castaneda will continue to advise the U.S. Dairy Export Council as it works to enhance U.S. dairy exports in tandem with NMPF. Roger Eldridge, Vice President, Government Relations, and Shawna Morris, Manager, Government Relations and Trade, will report to Castaneda.

Rob Byrne, PhD., has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, where he will continue to manage a three-person staff focused on technical and regulatory issues.

Christopher Galen has also been promoted, to Senior Vice President, Communications, where he will continue his efforts in developing and delivering NMPF’s messages and communications activities.

Congratulations gentlemen.

3 A Day On Super Sunday

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Nutrition, Promotion

3 A Day For Super BowlHow are you supposed to get your 3 A Day on Super Sunday? It’s easy if you use the recipes that the American Dairy Association has posted on their 3 A Day website.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with Yogurt Sauce
• Cheddar Cornbread Squares
• Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup
• Chipotle Pepper Dip
• Hot Pizza Dip
• Mini Toasted Open Subs with Cucumber Yogurt Dressing
• Slow Cooker Fresh Veggie Lasagna

Who cares who wins. It’s what you eat that counts.