Early to mid-April, when alfalfa begins to green up, is the time to assess the degree of damage from winterkill. Dan Wiersma, account manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred, offers tips on what to look for, both above and below ground, to evaluate alfalfa stands just ahead of the upcoming growing season. Dan also discusses options to consider if those stands are … Read More
Mississippi Dairy Sold
Another dairy is being sold. LuVel Dairy Products Inc., based in Mississippi, was aquired by Prairie Farms Dairy Inc., Carlinville, Ill. LuVel currently has over 225 employees and operates about 100 routes or distributors in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. LuVel President Jimmy Briscoe and his brother, Richard, who is LuVel’s vice president, will remain at the helm of … Read More
Friendship to be Acquired
Dean Foods disclosed Thursday in its annual report that it entered into an agreement to acquire Friendship Dairies Inc. for about $130 million. The nation’s biggest milk company said the transaction will expand its cultured dairy product capabilities and add a strong regional brand, according to its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Friendship Dairies is a … Read More
Dairyline Markets in Review
Dairy Markets Week in Review Cash cheese weakened the last week of February, following the previous week’s gains. Block closed Friday at $1.3450 per pound, down 2 1/2-cents on the week, but still 22 1/4-cents above that week a year ago when block hit its low point of the year at $1.1225. Barrel, after some ups and downs, closed Friday … Read More
Voices for Choices
DairyBusiness Communications has announced a new campaign called “Voices for Choices.” The campaign includes an online survey producers can take to help measure industry attitudes and downloadable form letters to inform retail leaders that “milk is milk.” The group hopes to create industry support for producers’ opportunities to use safe and approved technologies and for safeguarding the image of all … Read More
Holden Receives Pa. Extension Award
Congrats to Dr. Lisa Holden, associate professor of dairy and animal science in the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State University! At the Pa. Dairy Summit in February, she was honored with the 2007 Extension Award by the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association. Holden teaches undergraduate dairy programs and was the primary developer of the senior level class in … Read More