Former North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer, 61, has been named agriculture secretary by President Bush. “Ed Schafer is the right choice to fill this post,” Bush said at the White House. He would succeed Mike Johanns, who resigned six weeks ago to run for the Senate from Nebraska. Schafer would be the first agriculture secretary from the Upper Midwest … Read More
NMPF Comments on Senate Farm Bill
National Milk Producers Federation has offered some insights into the Senate farm bill, claiming that they like some of the provisions and dislike others. Chris Galen with NMPF says the dairy provisions of the Senate bill are similar to those in the House bill with a couple of exceptions. One difference is that the Senate bill does not assess the … Read More
Pennsylvania Cracks Down on False Labeling
The state of Pennsylvania has taken an industry-leading step – notifying processors that sell milk in the state that false or misleading labels must be changed. The Pa. Department of Agriculture has authority over food labeling through the Pennsylvania Food Act and the milk sanitation law. Specific to milk and dairy products sold in the state, the department has the … Read More
National FAIR Recognized by USDA
And the news from the Holstein Association USA is also outstanding – the Association is one of the first to be recognized by USDA as an official Animal Tracking Database. A cooperative agreement has been signed between USDA and Holstein Association USA giving National FAIR (Farm Animal Identification and Records) official approval as a compliant Animal Tracking Database under the … Read More
Labor Issues Testimony
A California dairy producer testified last week before the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing called to review the labor needs of American agriculture. Randy Mouw was one of 12 people who testified at the Committee’s hearing on Oct. 4 in Washington DC. He spoke on behalf of Western United Dairymen, Dairy Farmers of America, and National Milk Producers Federation. … Read More
Record Wisconsin Cheese Production
Record cheese production was announced today at World Dairy Expo by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Governor Jim Doyle today announced Wisconsin cheese production set a new record in 2006, producing nearly 2.5 billion pounds of cheese, accounting for 26 percent of the national cheese market. Wisconsin’s growth is fueled by the increase in national demand for high-quality, specialty cheeses, … Read More
Complete Census Online
The Census of Ag, performed every five years, is set for updating in 2007. Farmers and ranchers can now fill out their census forms online, at a new website. USDA will mail out census forms beginning Dec. 28 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. The mailing will include info on how to complete the census online. Whether you … Read More
Johanns Resigns
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns has announced his resignation, with apparanent plans to return to Nebraska to run for a U.s. Senate seat. The Acting Agriculture Secretary will be Chuck Conner, the former Deputy Secretary. Johanns did not announce his Senate candidacy when he appeared with Bush in the White House Rose Garden, but Bush all but did it … Read More
Canadian Border to Open…
The USDA announced the lifting of its ban on Canadian cattle that are 30 months of age or older, starting Nov. 19. The U.S. has banned the older, or “cull cattle,” since Canada reported its first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad-cow disease, in May 2003. The U.S. eased restrictions on cattle under 30 months old, which are the … Read More
…And NMPF isn't Happy About it
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) expressed their concern over USDA’s rule to reopen the Canadian border to cattle over 30 months of age. CEO Jerry Kozak says the concern is in two areas. For one, this will mean the border will again be open for replacement dairy heifers to come into the United States. Before the border was closed, … Read More