It has been interesting to see some consumer-oriented websites do a story about the computerized robotic milking machine from DeLaval (their Voluntary Milking System).
One story was on Engadget today called “Cow Milking Robots,” and it linked to the page on the DeLaval website where you can see video of the machine in action.
Another story about it appeared on LinuxDevices.com since the computer software to run the machine uses, Linux.
Major League Baseball may not be very happy about the new Got Milk tv ads but I say, “Get a life.” They’re funny and created by the California Milk Processor Board.
It’s a series of ads that look like a breaking news story about players “pouring” a performance enhancing product. I think it’s very well done. It’s all in fun says the agency. “Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Co-Founder Jeff Goodby whose agency created the campaign says Brosnan needs to get a sense of humor, “It’s just milk. Believe me, we know parody is based on a serious topic. So we wanted to make sure that it was goofy enough so that people didn’t get upset.”
They apparently did as this statement by MLB’s Brosnan shows. “There is nothing humorous about steroid abuse. I would think that the California Milk Processor Board and their advertising agency would know better regarding an issue that threatens America’s youth.”
Some lucky mom is going to win a 3 Day Spa Getaway. It’s a contest offered on 3-A-Day from Dairy Management, Inc.
It’s obvious why they have an image of 3 women since everything’s 3 on 3-A-Day!
Let’s give Ken a big round of applause. Yaaaay! It sounds like this guy does some travelling. Pictured are: Alto field representatives from left to right: Don DeMotts, Jeff Montsma, Mike Mountain, Jeff Briese, Ken Beutler, Matt Hartwig and Alan Philibeck.
Alto Dairy Cooperative field representative Ken Beutler was named the 2005 Field Rep of the Year by the Wisconsin Association of Dairy Plant Field Reps at their annual convention in September.
Since he began working with Alto in 1981, Beutler has called on dairy producers in over 15 counties. Prior to working for Alto Dairy, he worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at a fish hatchery near his home in Westfield.
Everyone else in the media seems fixated on Hurricane Wilma, why not us? There are already stories being done by the weather speculators about how the hurricane that no one yet knows where it will land, might affect the dairy industry in south Florida. Of course they speculate about the vegetable and citrus industries too.
We’ll keep an eye on it as well and pass along any dairy related hurricane effect, if any.
The photo is courtesy of The Weather Channel and is today’s location.
The National Dairy Council distributes an emailed newsletter called the NDC Update. You can keep up with all the promotional work they’re doing including: fast facts on calcium, free tools for patients, expert advice and information on updated dairy nutrition resources and emerging studies.
An example is a link to “Look At The Science” on dairy.
In case you’re wondering what the situation is on “dairy” in the world there’s a report available now (70 euros) from the International Dairy Federation called, “World Dairy Situation 2005.”
Results of annual survey presented by the Chair of the Standing Committee “Dairy Policies and Economics” at the IDF World Dairy Summit, Vancouver, September 2005. The 2005 edition of the World Dairy Situation report includes the customary collation of figures and comments from IDF National Committees and other sources.
Th organization also announced the appointment of Mr. Christian Robert as IDF Director General effective October 18.
Do you need a calendar for next year? Want to stick with the dairy theme? Just check out the new Animart Calendar!
Animart, Inc. has released its annual customer appreciation calendar with a unique theme. The 2006 Animart calendar features 14 outstanding artists that have chosen to use dairy cattle as a means of artistic expression in one or more of their paintings. Each year, Animart strives to develop a new, creative theme to feature in their annual calendars and product catalogs – appropriately known as “Cowlendars” and “Cowtalogs” by Animart staff and customers. Each page of this 13-month calendar (starting with December 2005) features a different artist’s work, and a short biography.
The prestigious list of artists featured in the 2006 Cowlendar include:
Catherine Anderson; Houston, Texas
Lynn Bean; Vancouver, Washington
Rollie Brandt; Webster, Minnesota
Leah Dockrill; Toronto, Canada
Steven Kozar; McFarland, Wisconsin
Corrie Hofstra; Snohomish, Washington
Mia LaBerge; Harrisonburg, Virginia
Ken Marsden; Marinette, Wisconsin
Bonnie Mohr; Glencoe, Minnesota
Dick O’Brien; Blanchardville, Wisconsin
Denise Rich; San Diego, California
Sue Skowronski; Woodstock, Illinois
Ruud Spil; Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jeanne Tuman; Hutchinson, Minnesota
At the Sunbelt Ag Expo today a Florida dairyman received a big award. He’s Red Larson from Okeechobee, FL.
Larson was selected for the honor by a panel of judges in competition among eight state finalists in the Southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Larson, who has been a dairy farmer for over 57 years, has been named the recipient of the prestigious 2005 Lancaster/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. His selection was announced today at the Willie B. Withers Expo Luncheon during the opening day of the 28 th annual Sunbelt Expo. The announcement was made by officials of Swisher International of Jacksonville, FL, and the Sunbelt Expo of Moultrie, GA, sponsors of the Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 16 years.
Dairy farming has been the backbone of Larson’s distinguished agriculture career that started in 1948. His first operation was a 160-acre dairy farm that he rented in Dade County, FL. “I heard about that farm for rent so I quit school, got married, sold the house and had enough money to rent it,” said Larson. “I had a dairy farm – something I had always wanted.”
Today, his massive operation in Okeechobee County covers 10,000 acres with the focus still on the dairy industry. There are over 6,000 milking cows that produce 120,000,000 pounds of milk annually. The average per cow is 21,000 pounds. Grass and hay used for silage covers 3,000 acres and yields 20-25 tones per acre.
“One of the smartest things I did was marry my wife Reda,” said Larson. “I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in life.” They have four grown children – sons Woody and John, who operate their own farming operations and daughters Barbara Stuart of Orlando and Kathy Cooley of Okeechobee.
Once upon a time I lived and worked in Florida and got to know the Larsons, especially Red’s son Woody. They are great people and we congratulate Red Larson on his award!
I don’t know too many blogger who send out a news release when they post something to their blog but Alex Avery did today. It’s about his latest post on “Milk is Milk.”
As the release states, “The latest entry for Alex Avery’s Milk is Milk blog concerns consumer attitudes about milk. The blog’s author warns retailers and dairy producers to “beware ‘consumer research’ that claims to know what consumers demand when it comes to production standards for animal agriculture.” The second entry of this two-part article, to be posted later in the week, reviews the impact on dairy consumption of these marketing issues.”
So there you have it. Check out the blog for the rest of the story.
