New Manual Available

News EditorAnimal Health

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has released a new manual intended to help improve animal health, while minimizing the chances of unwanted traces of pharmaceuticals getting into the food supply.

The 2011 Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is a revision of the Milk and Dairy Beef Residue Avoidance manual that was previously published by the Dairy Quality Assurance Center that NMPF purchased in 2008. As a new area of focus for the National Dairy FARM Program, the manual can be found online under the Residue Prevention tab of the site. The manual is only available free through the website.

The Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is a concise review of appropriate antibiotic use in dairy animals. The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals, and can also be used as an educational tool for farm managers as they develop their best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues.

“I encourage all dairy farmers to sit down with their veterinarian and all employees to review this manual because I think they will find the information useful, practical, and easily applied to their farms,” said Karen Jordan, DVM, Chair of the NMPF Animal Health and Welfare Committee and a dairy producer from Siler City, NC.

“The dairy industry is committed to producing safe, abundant, and affordable milk and dairy beef of the highest quality. Healthy animals help make for safe food and disease prevention is the key to keeping cows healthy,” Jordan said.

The National Dairy FARM Program was created by NMPF to demonstrate and verify that U.S. milk producers are committed to providing the highest levels of quality assurance including animal care, residue prevention, and other on-farm practices.

The Residue Prevention manual was sponsored by Charm Sciences, IDEXX, Neogen Corporation, and Pfizer Animal Health. No dairy check-off finds were used in the development and distribution of this manual.

Source: The National Milk Producers Federation

Jersey Youth Needed for Academy

News EditorEducation, Jersey Association

The second Jersey Youth Academy will be held from Sunday, July 17 through Friday, July 22, in Columbus, Ohio. Applications are solicited from Jersey youth who will be enrolled in their junior or senior years of high school in the fall of 2011, and those who will have at least one year remaining in their studies at a two-year program, vocational school, college or university.

Selection will be based on an evaluation of merit, motivation and preparation for the program as reflected in the youth’s background, experience and goal statement. Applicants must be available to participate in the entire program.

All expenses, including round-trip transportation to Columbus plus meals and housing, are paid from the Academy’s endowment. Jersey Youth Academy is a 501(c)(3) private foundation dedicated to educating talented young people for careers in the Jersey dairy business.

The application is available by request to academy@usjersey.com. Applications will be accepted until the close of business at the AJCA office on Monday, December 27. Notification of selection for the second Academy class will occur by January 15.

An information webinar has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 24.

Source: American Jersey Cattle Association

Happy Thanksgiving

Cindy ZimmermanGeneral

If you have food on your table today – thank God and thank our nation’s fabulous farmers and ranchers for the affordable, safe and abundant food supply they produce for the world.

I found this poem online that gives good reasons to give thanks today for those who produce the food, fuel and fiber that we all enjoy:

I’m Just a Farmer, Plain and Simple
By Bobby Collier

Happy Thanksgiving From ZimmComm New MediaI’m just a farmer,
Plain and simple.
Not of a royal birth
But rather, a worker of the earth.
I know not of riches
But rather, of patches on my britches
I know of drought and rain,
Of pleasure and pain.
I know of the good and the bad,
The happy and the sad.
I am a man of emotions.
A man who loves this land,
And the beauty of its sand.
I know of a spring’s fresh flow
And autumn’s golden glow,
Of a newborn calf’s hesitation,
And the eagle’s destination.
I know of tall pines,
And long, waiting lines.
Of the warmth of campfires,
And the agony of flat tires.
But I am a man who loves his job
And the life I live.
I am a man who works with God,
I cannot succeed without his help,
For you see,
I’m just a farmer
Plain and simple.

Jersey Youth Honored

News EditorJersey Association

Congratulations to ten Jersey Juniors who were honored by the American Jersey Cattle Association in the National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest.

The contest recognizes outstanding achievement by junior Jersey breeders in four areas: work with Registered Jerseys™, related dairy activities, relative progress, and future goals. They were selected from 17 outstanding youth nominated by state Jersey associations, based on their cumulative record through December 31, 2009.

The American Jersey Cattle Association presented cash awards totaling $3,000, including $600 to the contest winner, at the Junior Banquet held in conjunction with The All American Junior Jersey Show in Louisville, Ky.

Winners are Brittany Core, Salvisa, Ky.; Kelli Ann Carstensen, Petaluma, Calif.; Logan Horst, Mercersburg, Pa.; Kyle Schirm, West Salem, Ohio; Amber Ettinger, Kinards, S.C.; Cassandra Chittenden, Schodack Landing, N.Y.; Stacey Theobald, Waymart, Pa.; Avery Lutz, Mocksville, N.C.; Julie Ann Ozburn, Nolensville, Tenn.; and Daniel Fugate, Whitesburg, Tenn.

Click her for more details.

Source: American Jersey Cattle Association

Select Sires Employees Complete Training

News EditorCompany Announcement

Nine professional technicians, Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) evaluators, Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) specialists, and sales and marketing staff participated in Select Sires’ employee orientation held on October 28 and 29, 2010, at Select Sires’ headquarters office in Plain City, Ohio. Employees from three member cooperatives and Select Sires Inc. were present for the two-day event, where they received advanced education in serving Select Sires’ customer-owners.

“Serving dairy and beef customers with the highest level of professional service is Select Sires’ main ambition,” said Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires. “This process begins with well-trained and well-versed representatives in the field.”

The participants received in-depth information about Select Sires’ programs, including the Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™), Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™), SRS and SMS. They also received advanced training on the topics of reproductive solutions, fertility research, beef and dairy sire programs, cattle evaluation, herd-management products and Select Sires’ gender SELECTed™ process.

Attendees included: Minnesota/Select Sires—Paul McCormick, St. Cloud, Minn.; NorthStar Cooperative—Denise Martin and Michelle Haarer, Lansing, Mich.;
Prairie State/Select Sires—Mark Kerndt, Waukon, Iowa; Select Sire Power—Heath Spatz, Lititz, Pa.; Mike Kunkle, Jonestown, Pa.; Steve Furrow, Rocky Mount, Va.; and Jack Lomeo, Lowville, N.Y.; and Select Sires Inc.—Hannah Thompson, Walkersville, Md.

Source: Select Sires Inc.

Milking Parlor: Communicating the Good News of Dairy

John DavisAudio, Dairy Checkoff, Milking Parlor, Novus International, Podcast, The Milking Parlor

Dairy farmers are looking for more ways to get their story out to the public … and some of that is starting with school kids.

The dairy industry has a good story to tell … one of hard-working farmers and their families, who are producing quality, nutritious products that build strong bodies and strong minds. In this episode of the Milking Parlor, we talk to Brad Scott, a fourth generation family dairy farmer from Southern California and a member of the National Dairy Board, and get his thoughts on the training the dairy checkoff has made available to dairy producers like him to better communicate that good news to the public, using many methods, including social media. In addition, Bridget Sheehan, a registered dietitian and program manager in the Kansas City area with the Midwest Dairy Council, talks about how the dairy industry has teamed up with the National Football League to offer the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program … a program where kids are encouraged to get an hour of play every day, fueled by nutritious meals, such as ones with milk and dairy products.

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 Communicating Better Using the Dairy Checkoff

To subscribe to the Milking Parlor podcast, click here.

The Milking Parlor podcast is sponsored by:
Novus

New Leader on World Dairy Expo Committee

News EditorWorld Dairy Expo

Congratulations to Joe Coburn, Craig Walter and Nik Sutter for being elected to serve three-year terms on World Dairy Expo’s Commercial Exhibitors’ Committee. World Dairy Expo 2011 will take place Tuesday through Saturday, October 4 – 8 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Commercial Exhibitors’ Committee members act as an advisory council, drafting policies and assisting fellow exhibitors during the show. Coburn will serve as a livestock supplies/services representative, Walter will fill an at-large position and Sutter will serve as a dairy producer representative on the 23-member committee.

Coburn is an owner and head of sales and marketing for The Coburn Company, Inc., a family-run business established in 1925. Based in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the company developed the first mass-produced electric fencer in the United States. Today, they manufacturer and distribute a wide array of livestock supplies and milking equipment. Coburn Company products can be found in dairy equipment and farm supply stores in every state as well as over sixty countries throughout the world. The Coburn Company has been an exhibitor at World Dairy Expo for over 30 years. Coburn has witnessed significant growth in the tradeshow during that time, and looks forward to examining ways to improve the industry’s premier trade show.

Walter grew up on a small family dairy in southern Wisconsin. With a degree in Ag Economics and Dairy Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he worked for five years at Wisconsin Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative (now AgSource) developing hand-held solutions for milk testers in the field and related on-farm computer software. During the next three years AgSource and Valley Ag Software forged a relationship and Walter became responsible for the support and sales of Valley Ag Software products. When the partnership was dissolved in 1997, Walter became a regional representative for Tulare, California-based Valley Ag Software. Walter began exhibiting at World Dairy Expo in 1994 and hasn’t missed a show since.

Sutter is a partner in Fertile-Ridge Dairy LLC, a 680-cow dairy farm in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he spent eight years in the financial services industry, worked as a marketing specialist for Novus International, and was a marketing executive with Filament Marketing prior to returning to the home dairy operation. His involvement in World Dairy Expo has been diverse. He has coordinated commercial exhibits, fitted cattle for the shows, attended producer seminars, hosted farm tours for international visitors, participated in the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest and served grilled cheese sandwiches for the Badger Dairy Club.

Source: World Dairy Expo

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted three requests for export assistance from Darigold and Dairy Farmers of America to sell a total of 264 metric tons (582,000 pounds) of Cheddar cheese to customers in the Middle East and Asia. The product will be delivered November 2010 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 30,433 metric tons (67.1 million pounds) to 25 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. Nearly 50% of the product will be delivered between now and April 2011.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term and long-term by helping member cooperatives 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)

GM Buys Mountain High Yoghurt

News EditorYogurt

General Mills has purchased Mountain High Yoghurt, an all-natural yogurt sold in the western United States. Terms were not disclosed.

“We are excited about this opportunity to double our large-size yogurt business with this strong brand,” said Becky O’Grady, president of the Yoplait division at the Golden Valley-based food company.

The acquisition from Dean Foods comes at an unsettled time. General Mills has spent 33 years building Yoplait into the top-selling yogurt in the United States. But now, as a longtime licensee, General Mills faces the possible loss of that lucrative brand.

The French dairy Sodima has told General Mills it will sever their licensing deal in 2012. General Mills is fighting that effort.

And Yoplait’s other 50-percent owner has put its stake up for sale, drawing strong interest from rival food companies, who might want to sell the brand themselves.

Kirstie Foster, a spokeswoman for General Mills, said the company was interested in Mountain High to expand its reach into the all-natural and large-size yogurts, carried in 32-ounce and 64-ounce containers.

Asked whether Mountain High Yoghurt also represented a Plan B for General Mills, Foster said no.

“Mountain High is an exceptional brand that is experiencing exceptional growth,” she said.

Earlier this year, General Mills discontinued its Colombo yogurt brand, saying it wanted to focus its resources on national brands.

Source: The Pioneer Press

Scoop Up An Extra $250 In Holiday Cash

Joanna SchroederCompany Announcement, General

Scoop up some extra cash for the holiday season by filling out the World Dairy Diary Survey. By participating in our fast, easy survey, you could win $250 to spend on yourself or to help spread the joy to your friends and family.

Here’s all you need to do. Click on this link to complete the survey that will help the blogging team bring you more stories that are of interest to you. Once you’ve answered all the questions, enter to win $250 in cash. Each month, one winner will be chosen from all of the survey’s entrants. Non winners will be put into the drawing for the next month so there is no need to fill out the survey multiple times.

While you’re at it, weigh in on our monthly poll question. Considering the state of the dairy industry, is now a good time to increase production? You can sound off by posting a comment to this story, or sending your response to WDDPoll@hotmail.com. Select answers will be used in an upcoming story for the blog.

Ready to win? Then click here to begin.