The Milkman Cometh

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, International

The MilkmanThe residents of Britian are going to keep their milkmen! Here across the pond, the milkman has become an image of a time gone by, but in the UK, the home delivery is still very much a reality.

Barn Fun

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, International

Cow InterviewIt’s been a long trip and sometimes you start to get a little goofy. I tried to interview old Betsy here but she wasn’t interested.

As you might expect, we had to suit up to go into the dairy barn.

I wasn’t the only one thinking I looked pretty fashionable in my blue suit.

Organic Infighting Now Official

Andy VanceCompetition, Dairy Business, Dairy Group, Markets, Milk, Production

Organic and “natural” or “whole” foods comprise one of the fastest growing niches in food marketing today. Consumers are open to messaging decrying conventional commodity agriculture and touting products that are somehow more wholesome and nutritious due to their specialized production style. These interests are now attempting to eat their own, it appears.

Southeast Dairy Testimony

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, Government

The Senate Agriculture Committee held its first field hearing on farm policy Friday in Albany, Georgia. One of those who testified was Tom Thompson with the Georgia Milk Producers who told the committee that “dairymen located in the Southeast are endanger of extinction. According to trendlines from the Federal Milk Marketing administrator’s office in Atlanta, without a change in the … Read More

Manure Powered Ethanol Production

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, Waste Management

An ethanol facility powered by renewable energy from dairy waste is planned for a large Indiana dairy farm. Bion Environmental Technologies and Fair Oaks Dairy Farms have announced a joint venture that will enable environmentally sustainable expansion of animal agriculture in concert with ethanol production. According to the news release, Bion’s technology platform provides sufficient renewable energy from the associated … Read More

Production Continues to Expand

Andy VanceDairy Business, Government, Markets, Milk, Production

Milk production totals continue to climb as they have each month this year. USDA reports that for the 23 major dairy states, total output is up 2.8% for the month of May over the same month in 2005. Production of 14.7 billion pounds is also 3.5% above the April 2006 figure.

Arla Outsources IT To IBM

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Business, International

Arla FoodsThis is what I call serious outsourcing. I wonder how the Arla employees feel about becoming IBM employees? These kinds of deals can make a lot of sense though as each party can focus on what they do best.