One of the great dairy loving farm broadcasters has just passed away. He’s Ed Slusarczyk and here’s part of what it says about him on the National Association of Farm Broadcasting website, “Ed Slusarczyk, founder of Ag Radio Network, was a commercial farm broadcaster more than 68 years. He grew up on a dairy farm near Prospect, NY loving radio, pretending he was a radio announcer when he was only four. In 1938 Ed began reporting news of the Oneida and Lewis County FFA chapters on WIBX, Utica, NY. The Slusarczyk family formed Ag Radio Network in 1976, starting with 11 stations. Ed reached his goal of “providing a voice for farmers in the Northeast” in 2002 when 144 stations were affiliated with Ag Radio Network, covering the Northeast from Maryland to Maine.”
On the Road Again…
In celebration of their 100th birthday, Blue Bell will send two 18-wheelers hauling ice cream and displays about Blue Bell’s history to 66 cities in their 16-state market. Sounds like a lot of fun – maybe they could send us weekly updates from the road! In its nearly 100 years, the so-called “little creamery in Brenham” has evolved from a … Read More
FDA Concludes Cloned Meat and Milk Safe
This announcement from the FDA has been awaited all week. I’ve listed portions from the actual FDA press release, plus two links to media stories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued three documents on the safety of animal cloning — a draft risk assessment; a proposed risk management plan; and a draft guidance for industry. The draft … Read More
Dairyline Markets In Review
Dairy Markets Week in Review
The cash cheese market was on pause for the most part, the last week of 2006. Block closed the week and the year at $1.33 per pound, up a half-cent on the week, but 3 3/4-cents below that week a year ago when it lost 6 1/4-cents. Barrel closed 2006 at $1.29, unchanged on the week, but a nickel below a year ago when it dropped 6 cents. Only two cars of block and two of barrel traded hands on the week. The latest NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price fell to $1.3132, down 2.5 cents. Barrel averaged $1.2956, down 2.9 cents.
Butter closed Friday and the year at $1.20, down 3 cents on the week, and 14 1/2-cents below a year ago. Four cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.2397, down 0.2 cent. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.04 per pound, up 2.4 cents, and dry whey averaged 41.42 cents, up 0.4 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.
It Sure Beats Watching Paint Dry…
… I mean, you can’t eat the paint, after all. The concept of new media may have gone a bit off the deep end with the introduction of “Cheddar Vision,” a website dedicated to, well, watching mold grow on a hunk of cheese. The story behind the story is a group of local cheesemakers in England have developed the site as a bit of curiosity to drive interest in their quality cheeses. West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers offer various products for sale and export on their website, further demonstrating the power of the internet to be used as a marketing tool for niche producers.
Colorado Dairy Producers Deal with Blizzard
Last week we heard a lot about the travelers stuck in the Denver airport and their harrowing stories to get home for the holidays. But, you don’t always hear about the dairy producers and how they cope with the difficult weather. They had to keep “digging and pushing, digging and pushing,” but those in the milk production industry dealt with … Read More
Agriculture Year-in-Review
The last few days of each year there are always many “best of” and “year-in-review” lists and specials. Here’s an article from the NY Times that is an “agricultural year-in-review.” “This is the year everyone discovered that food is about politics and people can do something about it,” said Marion Nestle, a professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies … Read More
Fruit 'n Frozen Yogurt Shakes
I’ve never met a milk shake I didn’t like, and these new Steak n Shake Fruit ‘n Frozen Yogurt Milk Shakes sound so good! Why don’t you go and get one? The Steak n Shake Company adds four new Fruit ‘n Frozen Yogurt Milk Shakes — Raspberry, Strawberry, Banana and, for those who might be overcome by indecision, Strawberry-Banana — … Read More
Burger King "King" Ad
I had to post the newest milk mustache ad for our readers to see. I’ll go on record as saying I’m not the biggest fan of the BK King, but I think this ad is one of the best our promotion group has produced. Such a talked about pop culture icon will be sure to keep milk and the dairy … Read More
DFA Website Combats Contamination
Reading this press release from DFA, I was glad the cooperative took the time to develop this software and on-farm protection. I hope members of DFA will take advantage of it! Dairy Farmers of America has launched mySecurity, a voluntary information and awareness program designed to help members better protect their animals and the milk they produce from accidental or … Read More