The 2012 Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer Champion is Bailey Ballou of Elgin, OK. The competition was held last Saturday in Turlock, CA. If you listen in below you’ll hear Bailey talk about how his upbringing on a dairy farm contributed to his desire to become a livestock auctioneer! I just participated in a conference call with Bailey … Read More
Price of Distillers Grains is Up
Tight corn supplies, higher corn prices, low ethanol processing margins, export demand and high soybean meal prices are among the factors contributing to higher prices for dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), the ethanol co-product used as livestock feed. South Dakota State University economics professor Darrell Mark says price for distillers grains usually declines going into summer as cattle feedlot … Read More
NMC Now on Facebook
The National Mastitis Council (NMC) has launched a Facebook page for researchers and dairy farmers to share information on milk quality and industry insights. The NMC pages provide a variety of useful information to followers including management tips and industry updates that correspond with NMC’s goal of improved milk quality. Posts and discussions include management information on proper milking protocols … Read More
National Dairy Council Announces Partnership
Feeding America joins with National Dairy Council and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to identify game-changing innovations in the field of nutrition and food security. With a commitment of $1.8M over two years, National Dairy Council will take a leadership role in bringing together this unique effort between three organizations to help to eliminate hunger and promote healthy food … Read More
Seeking Nominations for Innovative Farmer
Nominations are now being accepted for the title of the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, an annual award co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Today magazine. The winner will be honored at the 2013 Dairy Forum, January 27-30 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla. The deadline for nominations is September 17, 2012, and there is no … Read More
CWT Export Update
Last week, Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 13 requests for export assistance from Bongards, Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative and United Dairymen of Arizona to sell a total of 1,511 metric tons (3.331 million pounds) of Cheddar cheese and 686 metric tons (1.512 million pounds) of butter to customers in Asia, Central America and … Read More
Long Live Those Dairy Cows!
Research in Texas is looking into the relationship between the breed of dairy cows and the longevity of the herd. This article from Texas AgriLife (and this story from the USDA’s Rod Bain) talks about how researcher Dr. Pablo Pinedo, AgriLife Research ruminant animal health scientist in Amarillo, is conducting a year-long study funded by the American Jersey Cattle Club … Read More
10-Year-Old Raises $8,000 for Her Classmates to Drink Milk
$8 a month for milk may not seem like a lot of money, but for some of the peers to 10-year-old Haley Dellaneva in Fargo, N.D. it was too much. They were going without milk, and Haley didn’t like that. So, on June 10, Haley hosted the first “Haley’s Milk Run” to raise money so her school mates could drink … Read More
Dairy Farmers Appointed to National Board
Congratulations to the following dairy farmers who were appointed to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. All appointees’ terms will begin immediately with terms ending October 31, 2014. Newly appointed members are: Kima L. Simonson, Washington (Region 1); Lynda S. Foster, Kansas (Region 4); John R. Howerton, Arkansas (Region 4); Amber L. Horn-Leiterman, Wisconsin … Read More
Vote Split on Corn Sugar vs. HFCS
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Do you prefer corn sugar to high fructose corn syrup?” In what is a first for our poll, the response was split evenly! See the chart below. Recently the FDA denied a request from the Corn Refiners Association to allow food labels to use the term corn sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. … Read More