DFA Scholarship Deadline Approaching

News EditorDFA, Education

January 15 is the deadline to apply for the Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.’s (DFA) annual DFA Cares Scholarship program.

Since the program’s inception, DFA has awarded 28 scholarships totaling $42,000. Currently in its fourth year, the program is open to students planning a career in dairy, either as a producer or in numerous related fields, such as veterinary medicine or dairy nutrition.

“Encouraging promising students who intend to bring their skills and passion to dairy is an important investment in the future,” said David Darr, vice president of sustainability and public affairs, who oversees the DFA Cares Scholarship. “Rewarding these students for their hard work is one way we can ensure that we continue to bring young people into the industry.”

Any dairy-oriented student enrolled in a two- or four-year accredited college, university or trade school is eligible to apply for the scholarship. The program is open to high school seniors and post graduates, as well.

Award recipients will be selected based on their commitment and passion to a career in the dairy industry, extracurricular activity involvement, academic achievements, prior work experience and financial need. Applicants must include two letters of recommendation and their most recent high school or college transcript.

Source: Dairy Farmers of America

Milking Parlor: Novus Builds on Sustainability

John DavisAudio, Milking Parlor, Novus International, Podcast, sustainability, The Milking Parlor

Dairy farmers are moving to more sustainable operations, and Novus International, sponsor of this program, has opened a research farm that tests its products and ways to be sustainable.

In this edition of the Milking Parlor, we take a look at Green Acres, Novus’ research farm that uses several sustainable features, including collecting the wastewater and composting and a soon-to-be-operational solar array that will help provide power while Novus tests its products in a real-world environment. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 15-acre Green Acres, we talked with Novus CEO and President Thad Simons; manager of Product Services for Novus, Skip Hampton; and Missouri Director of Agriculture Jon Hagler about the facility, as well as catching up with Novus’ Director of Product Management Wendell Knehans, who explains Novus’ “triple bottom line” concept.

See photos from the event in our Flickr photo album.

It’s an interesting conversation, and you can hear more of what they have to say or download the podcast here:
Milking Parlor Podcast on Novus International's Green Acres farm

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here.

The Milking Parlor podcast is sponsored by:
Novus

Midwest Dairy Association Restructures

Cindy ZimmermanDairy Checkoff, Dairy Group

Midwest Dairy Association has announced an “organizational realignment” to enable the checkoff organization to better meet the needs of the dairy industry in the Midwest.

Under the new structure, Chuck Cruickshank has been named to serve as the new Senior Vice President of Industry Relations to the staff. The Industry Image and Relations program will be realigned into two program areas, including Industry Relations and the newly-created Integrated Communications. Cruickshank, who brings more than 35 years of agricultural experience and was most recently with Dairy Management Inc., will be responsible for the organization’s producer and board relations strategies as well as implementing industry relations activities in Minnesota and acting as the lead relationship manager for a number of Midwest co-ops and other cheese and ingredient processors.

The Integrated Communications team, which will primarily be responsible for inspiring consumer confidence in dairy products and practices, will be led by Senior Vice President Donna Moenning, who brings with her 25 years of agricultural and communications experience, including five with Midwest Dairy.

In other changes, the organization has merged the Nutrition Affairs and School Nutrition programs to become the Health and Wellness Team led by Senior Vice President and registered dietitian Molly Pelzer, who has more than 26 years with the organization. Brenda Goldman, who joined the organization in March, has become the Vice President of Human Resources and Planning and will facilitate the strategic planning process. The Marketing Team will continue to be managed by Senior Vice President Kevin Stiles and Mike Kruger, who has been with Midwest Dairy for 25 years, remains as CEO.

Midwest Dairy represents more than 11,000 dairy producers, about 20 percent of all U.S. dairy operations. Midwest Dairy programs reach nearly 35 million consumers through marketing, promotion, nutrition education programs and public relations campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, Minnesota; Ankeny, Iowa; and Overland Park, Kansas.

Read more from Midwest Dairy here.

Consumer Perception of Ag Not Improved in 2010

Chuck ZimmermanZimmPoll

It looks like agriculture has a ways to go to change public perceptions according to our latest ZimmPoll. In answer to the question, “Do you think the general consumer perception of agriculture changed in 2010?” 43% say “No it didn’t really change,” while 30% say “Yes, it got worse,” and 27% said “Yes, it improved.” Where do you fall in those categories? That’s 73% of our respondents who think it didn’t change or got worse. Sounds like we really do need some campaigns to reach out to consumers doesn’t it?

The new poll is now live and the question is, “What do you think will have the biggest influence on ag in 2011?” There are no doubt many factors that will have an influence. We’ve picked a couple. When I post the results next week you can add any others you’d like to the discussion.

Remember, you can submit your questions for us to pose and add your feedback anytime by using the comment feature.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted seven requests for export assistance from Darigold, Foremost Farms and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 772 MT (1.702 million pounds) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese to customers in North Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The product will be delivered January 2011 through March 2011.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program in March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 35,183 metric tons (77.6 million pounds) to 27 countries on four continents. In addition, sales of butter and anhydrous milkfat totaling 14,968 metric tons (33.0 million pounds) have been made to nine countries on three continents.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance Program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term and in the long-term by helping member cooperatives to gain and maintain market share thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.

Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)

New Research on Dairy Whey Emerges

News EditorResearch

Scientists have found that lactoferrin, a whey protein found in milk, could be an anticancer agent for breast cancer. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been reported to inhibit several other types of cancer.

According to a study that will be published in the January 2011 issue of the American Dairy Science Association’s Journal of Dairy Science, scientists in Portugal found that breast cancer cells treated with lactoferrin decreased the cancer cells’ viability by 47-54 percent and decreased the growth rates of the cancer cells by 40-64 percent.

“There is overwhelming evidence that biologically active food components are key environmental factors affecting the incidence of many chronic diseases,” says Lígia Raquel Rodrigues, author of the study. “However, because the full extent of such components in our diet isn’t known, nor is the understanding of their mechanisms of action, we undertook this study for a closer look.”

While additional studies will be needed to establish a clear role for lactoferrin as a potential tool in fighting breast cancer, the results from this study suggest that lactoferrin interferes with some of the most important steps involved in cancer growth.

Source: Dairy Herd Management; American Dairy Science Association

New Dairy Checkoff Officers Announced

News EditorDairy Checkoff

Producer leaders of Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) announce the following dairy producers as officers.

Current DMI officers:

Chair – Paul Rovey, Glendale, Ariz.
Vice Chair – James Ahlem, Hilmar, Calif.
Secretary – Paula Meabon, Wattsburg, Pa.
Treasurer – Sanford Stauffer, Nicholville, N.Y.

DMI, which manages the national dairy producer checkoff program, is funded by the NDB and the UDIA.

Current NDB officers:

Chair – Ryan Anglin, Bentonville, Ark.
Vice Chair – Stephen Maddox, Riverdale, Calif.
Secretary – Kenton Holle, Mandan, N.D.
Treasurer – Ron Koetsier, Visalia, Calif.

The 36-member NDB, formed in May 1984 under the authority of the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 and Dairy Promotion and Research Order, carries out coordinated promotion and research programs to help build demand and expand domestic and international markets for U.S.-produced dairy products and ingredients. NDB oversees the national dairy producer checkoff.

Current UDIA officers:

Chair – William Siebenborn, Trenton, Mo.
1st Vice Chair – Neil Hoff, Windthorst, Texas
2nd Vice Chair, American Dairy Association (ADA) Chairman – Billy Travis, Princeton, Ky.
2nd Vice Chair, National Dairy Council® (NDC) Chairman – Lester Hardesty, Greeley, Colo.
2nd Vice Chair, UDIA Member Relations – Paul Broering, St. Henry, Ohio
Secretary – Steve Frischknecht, Manti, Utah
Treasurer – Allen Merrill, Parker, S.D.

The UDIA is a federation of state and regional dairy producer-funded promotion organizations that provide marketing programs that are developed and implemented in coordination with its members. The UDIA is overseen by a board comprised of dairy producers elected by their respective boards of their member organizations.

Current ADA officers:

Chair – Billy Travis
Vice Chair – Jerrel Heatwole, Greenwood, Del.
Secretary – Earl Horning, Manchester, Mich.
Treasurer – John Larson, Okeechobee, Fla.

ADA, founded in 1940, is the domestic marketing arm of DMI.

Current NDC officers:

Chair – Lester Hardesty
Vice Chair – Bob Strasser, Nashville, Tenn.
Secretary – Joan Smith, Sauquoit, N.Y.
Treasurer – Lynn Ramsey, Emory, Texas

NDC, founded in 1915, is the producer-funded nutrition education and research arm of DMI and provides nutrition information through national, state and regional dairy council organizations.

Source: Dairy Management Inc.

Settlement Reached in CWT Lawsuit

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced that it has successfully reached an out-of-court settlement with the defendants in the civil action entitled Kessler v. Greenville Livestock, Inc., which was filed in the Circuit Court for St. Clair County, Illinois on September 1, 2010.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which manages CWT, had joined with Illinois dairy farmer Kevin Kessler, and Kessler Dairy Inc., as a plaintiff in the action. The dispute involved transactions related to CWT’s herd retirement program.

By agreement with defendants, the terms of the settlement will not be disclosed. However, all parties are satisfied that the settlement resolves the case fairly. Jerry Kozak, NMPF President and CEO, said: “We have always fully investigated every report involving allegations about the proper operation of Cooperatives Working Together, and we felt, in this situation, that we needed to take legal action. The settlement agreement we have made with the defendants preserves the integrity of the CWT program and protects dairy farmers’ investment in CWT.”

Kessler and National Milk Producers Federation were represented in this action by its outside general counsel, Kevin J. Brosch of DTB Associates, LLP, Washington D.C.,; James A. McGurk of Chicago, Illinois; and Russell K. Scott of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., Belleville, Illinois.

Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)

Preliminary Settlement Reached

News EditorDairy Business

Today Northeast Dairy Farmers reached a settlement agreement with Dean Foods Company in their class action antitrust lawsuit against Dean, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Dairy Marketing Services (DMS). The agreement will include $30 million in monetary damages and injunctive relief that calls for Dean to purchase a portion of its raw milk from multiple Northeast sources.

“This is a major win for dairy farmers in the Northeast who have been squeezed by monopolization and price-fixing,” said Benjamin Brown, an attorney at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, PLLC, which represents the plaintiff dairy farmers. “We are pleased that Dean Foods is working with plaintiffs to put this practice behind them.”

DFA and DMS have been named in the suit for engaging in monopolization, price-fixing, and other anticompetitive conduct.

“The fact that Dean has agreed to purchase raw milk from multiple sources is a big step in the right direction,” said Robert Abrams of Howrey, LLP, which also represents the plaintiff dairy farmers. “What dairy farmers want is a choice between different bottlers. They have been living in a world that is monopolized and they pay the prices that are offered to them or they don’t sell milk. What we want is choice and competition.”

The next step is for the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont — where the lawsuit was filed inAugust 2009 — to grant preliminary approval of the settlement agreement. Notice will then go out to the estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Northeast dairy farmers who could be eligible to file a claim for monetary damages.

Abrams added, “We are pleased that a settlement with Dean has been reached and look forward to a timely court approval.”

Source: Northeast Dairy Farmers