CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted three bids from Dairy Farmers of America for a total of 225 metric tons (496,040 pounds) of Cheddar cheese to the Middle East. The product will be delivered July through September 2010.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program on March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 17,454 metric tons (38.5 million pounds) to 18 countries on four continents.

The Export Assistance program was reactivated when economic analysis indicated that sizeable cheddar cheese inventories overhanging the market are hampering a recovery in producer milk prices. Assisting CWT members in exporting American-type cheeses provides the most immediate way to positively impact producer milk prices in both the short-term and the long-term.

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

Select Sires Opens New Facility

News EditorCompany Announcement

Select Sires Inc. has completed a new global production facility located in Plain City, Ohio. In late November 2009, construction began for the development of two state-of-the-art production facilities across from the international headquarters location that will enable Select Sires to continue to grow and invest in the future of its customer-owners.

“This expansion will comfortably and safely house some of the world’s most valuable bovines that provide superior product for customers across the U.S. as well as in 90 countries around the world,” stated David Thorbahn, president and chief executive officer. “These barns will house 80 additional bulls that can produce semen qualified for shipment to any location in the world. The added housing will enhance Select Sires’ ability to provide an extensive selection of top Program for Genetic Advancement™ (PGA™) proven bulls and genomically tested young sires. Having more sires allows for a wide variation of pedigrees for our customers to choose from and provides all the genetic tools to develop a breeding program for their herds.”

The bio-secure facility has been extensively designed to be exceedingly safe for the welfare of the bulls and bull handlers as well as for the environment. The innovative design conserves energy with air flow that will allow for controlled temperature within the barns. This construction adds to the bulls’ comfort level and enables production of the highest quality semen possible. Each individual pen, walkway, collection arena, veterinary center and waiting area is covered with non-slip rubber matting for comfort and protection of the bulls.

With the awareness of environmental concerns, Select Sires has used advanced plans that while simple, are calculated to use less energy within the barns. The environmentally friendly way that Select Sires will house animals ensures that all waste is safely made into valuable products, while promoting conservation. These facilities self contain all animal waste and water discharge, including the manure storage facility.

Source: Select Sires Inc.

Top Jersey Milk Cheeses

News EditorCheese

Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2nd World Jersey Cheese Awards, an initiative of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau (WJCB)! In 2008 the World Jersey Cattle Bureau launched the world’s first produce awards dedicated to a single breed of livestock – The World Jersey Cheese Awards. The concept was simple: demonstrate the quality and diversity of cheeses made from 100% Jersey milk to reinforce in the mind of consumers that when it comes to quality, look for ’Jersey’ as a mark of the very best.

102 entries were received from 10 countries, with a total of 38 medals awarded by an expert judging panel. The cheese awarded the title of the World’s Best Jersey Cheese 2010 was “Jersey Blue” made by Willi Schmid from Switzerland.

World’s Best Jersey Cheese 2010
Willi Schmid – Jersey Blue – Switzerland

Gold Medals
Alexandrina Cheese Company, Alexandrina Vintage Cheddar, Australia
Thise Mejeri, Thise Jersey Gouda, Denmark
De Groote Voort, Remeker 6 Month In Age, Netherlands
De Groote Voort, Olde Remeker 1.5 Year In Age, Netherlands
Willi Schmid, Jersey Blue, Switzerland
Willi Schmid, Muhlstein, Switzerland
J&E Dickinson – Longley Farm, Cream Cheese, UK
Exmoor Blue Cheese Company, Partidges Blue, UK
S&R Poortman & Sons, Brucklay Gold – Jersey Gold, UK
Northumberland Cheese Company, Kielder, UK
The Farmstead At Mine Brook, Jersey Maid Neige En Ete, USA
Cobb Hill Cheese, Welsh Caerphilly Style Cheddar, USA
Cobb Hill Cheese, Farmstead Alpine Style Natural Rind Cheese, USA
Bellwether Farms, Carmody, USA
Farms For City Kids Foundation, Spring Brook Farm Tarentaise, USA
Homestead Creamery, Olde Hickory, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Taste Of Athens, USA

Silver Medals
Alexandrina Cheese Co, Magnificent Gouda, Australia
Alexandrina Cheese Co, Encounter Bay Edam, Australia
Classic Herd Limited, Golden Blue, Island Of Jersey
Classic Herd Limited, Cache, Island Of Jersey
Buckeye Grove Farm Cheese, Boeren Kaas Gouda, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, USA
Wake Robin Farm, Floradell, USA
The Farmstead At Mine Brook, Jersey Maid Mountain Cheese, USA
Homestead Creamery, Caraway Seed, USA
Acoustic Farms, Fromage Blanc Con Citrone, USA

Bronze Medals
Franz & Franziska Koster, Weichkase, Switzerland
Dalewood Fromage, Dalewood Fromage Wineland Blue Brie, UK
Exmoor Blue Cheese Company, Exmoor Blue, UK
Dalewood Farms, Fromage Wineland Brie With Cape Chilli, UK
Buckeye Grove Farm Cheese, Hill Folk Jersey, USA
Buckeye Grove Farm Cheese, Jersey Emment, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Mature Gouda Cheese, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Co-Jack – Marbled Monterey Jack & Colby, USA
Gingerbread Jersey Cheese, Farmers Cheese, USA
Wake Robin Farm, Opus, USA

Source: World Jersey Cheese Awards

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

The cheese price roller coaster headed back up mid way through June Dairy Month as the market awaited the May Milk Production report which came out Friday afternoon after our deadline. Cash block ended the week at $1.4050 per pound, up 3 1/2-cents on the week, 28 3/4-cents above a year ago, and reversed three weeks of decline. The barrels closed at $1.3850, up 5 1/2-cents on the week, and 31 1/2-cents above a year ago. Fourteen loads of block traded hands on the week and 35 of barrel, all of them on Friday. The NASS-surveyed block price average lost a penny, slipping to $1.4581. Barrel averaged $1.4274, down 5.2 cents.

Butter continued its climb, closing Friday at $1.6350, up 2 1/2-cents on the week, and 43 cents above a year ago. Only three cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.5766, up 3.4 cents. NASS powder averaged $1.3039, up 0.1 cent, and dry whey averaged 36.83 cents per pound, down 0.3 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

More on Bt Corn for Silage

Cindy ZimmermanAudio, Forage Forum, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Podcast

Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastIn this edition of Forage Forum, we have the second of a two-part series on Bt corn for silage with Bill Seglar, Pioneer nutritional sciences veterinarian. Here Seglar highlights the extensive registration process for biotech traits.

Listen to the podcast here:

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://zimmcomm.biz/pioneer/pioneer-podcast-76-wdd.mp3] Bill Seglar on Bt Corn for Silage part 2 (4:00 min MP3)

To see all archived Pioneer Forage Forum podcasts, click here.

Subscribe to Forage Forum here.

CWT Export Update

News Editorcwt

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted one bid from Foremost Farms, two bids from Dairy Farmers of America and five bids from Darigold on a total of 911 metric tons (2,007,971 pounds) of Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack to the Middle East and Asia. The product will be delivered June through December 2010.

Since CWT reactivated the Export Assistance program on March 18, 2010, it has assisted members in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 17,029 metric tons (38.0 million pounds) to 18 countries on four continents.

The Export Assistance program was reactivated when economic analysis indicated that sizeable cheddar cheese inventories overhanging the market are hampering a recovery in producer milk prices. Assisting CWT members in exporting American-type cheeses provides the most immediate way to positively impact producer milk prices in both the short-term and the long-term.

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)

Tipton Opposes Supply Management

News EditorIndustry News, Markets

International Dairy Foods Association president and CEO Connie Tipton expressed disappointment in recent proposals that would create a government-mandated system to limit the supply of milk produced by dairy farms.

A “supply-management” proposal was recently introduced in the House of Representatives and a similar proposal was included as part of a dairy policy reform plan released last week by the National Milk Producers Federation.

“I’m not going to mince words,” IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton told more than 80 dairy company leaders. “Supply management will destroy our dairy industry’s opportunity for the future.”

Tipton said that government-mandated supply-management programs, intended to reduce price volatility for dairy farmers, will only add more complexity to the system and will decrease demand for dairy products and dairy ingredients by encouraging non-dairy substitutions in foods and restaurants across the country.

“Dairy processors are sensitive to the market situation for farmers, and we are well aware that dairy producers are coming out of a period of devastating margins,” said Tipton. “But we need a solution that offers support AND opportunity.”

Tipton said that increasing demand for dairy products in global markets provides a unique opportunity for the U.S. dairy industry to grow and prosper.

“Supply management will stop U.S. dairy exports at a time when emerging markets are crying out for more dairy products,” she said. “Supply management will kill the growth of the U.S. dairy industry and prevent us from adding jobs that will help with our nation’s economic recovery.”

Tipton added that supply management will raise the price for basic foods and will cost the U.S. government hundreds of millions more to fund food and nutrition programs that are the priority of the Obama administration.

“IDFA has successfully fought supply management in many previous farm policy debates, and it is an idea that we need to fight hard to defeat,” Tipton said.

She called upon dairy producers, dairy coops, cattlemen and other national agriculture organizations that oppose supply management to join with IDFA to defeat supply management for the U.S. dairy industry.

Source: The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)

Accelerated Genetics Adds New Products

News EditorAccelerated Genetics

Accelerated Genetics is pleased to announce new additions to the Essential Solutions™ for organic fed cattle line. In addition to the Direct Fed Microbial (DFM) product that has been sold since January 2009, Accelerated Genetics has added the following new products for organic producers: Electrolyte for Dairy Cows, Electrolyte for Dairy Calves, Yellow 2:1 Dairy Premix, and Green 1:1 Dairy Premix.

“We have all of our products in the Essential Solutions line certified as 100% USDA certified organic, so producers can be confident that they will be able to use them on their operation,” says Dan Schreiner, Product Specials for Accelerated Genetics.

Electrolyte for Dairy Cows is an oral rehydration product for organic cattle. This product restores the proper balance of electrolytes and improves water absorption to correct dehydration along with adjusting pH and reducing acidosis. This unique rehydration product can be utilized two ways: at calving by mixing with five gallons of lukewarm water or it can be used as a daily treatment for heat stress and hydration by adding to daily water supply or feed.

Electrolyte for Dairy Calves is an oral rehydration product for organically raised dairy calves. This product restores the proper balance of electrolytes and improves water absorption to correct dehydration along with adjusting pH and reducing acidosis. This rehydration product can be mixed with two quarts of fresh water a fed twice daily as needed.

Yellow 2:1 Dairy Premix is a complete mineral vitamin premix designed specifically for organic dairy herd rations that contain primarily grass or corn silage. This premix is highly palatable and can be mixed into total rations or top-dressed.

Green 1:1 Dairy Premix is a complete mineral vitamin premix designed for organic dairy herd rations that contain primarily legume forages. This premix is highly palatable and can be mixed into total rations or top-dressed.

Source: Accelerated Genetics

Harshbarger Summer Intern

News EditorGeneral

Congratulations to Ashley Harshbarger for being named the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence summer intern.

In her position, Harshbarger will help organize activities for the Center for Dairy Excellence and Pennsylvania Dairy Task Force. Two key projects she will coordinate are a social media outreach plan to promote the center and Pennsylvania’s dairy industry and the center’s 2010 series of “Summer Open House and Dairy Tours.”

“Ashley has experience building social media plans and planning events for other Pennsylvania agriculture organizations, and she has served in numerous leadership roles at Penn State and in dairy youth organizations,” said John Frey, executive director of the Center for Dairy Excellence.

Harshbarger is from a dairy farm in Juniata County, where she was active in 4-H and FFA. She was a member of the Pennsylvania Junior Holstein Association where she served as secretary in 2009-2010 and competed in extemporaneous speaking, dairy bowl and dairy jeopardy.

Harshbarger earned a degree in Agricultural and Extension Education and a minor in Animal Science at Penn State. While there, she was active in the Dairy Science Club, Delta Theta Sigma, Coaly Society, and was an Ag Advocate for the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Source: Center for Dairy Excellence

Pagel New Board Member

News EditorCompany Announcement

Congratulations to Erica Pagel, Director of Raw Materials Management for Foremost Farms USA in Baraboo, Wis., for being named to a three-year term of service on the Professional Dairy Producers Foundation board.

At Foremost Farms, Pagel is responsible for purchase and sale of raw milk and related products and supply planning. She is formerly a senior buyer for Kraft Foods, where she bought milk for the company’s plants across the United States. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Lena, Wis. and holds a Masters of Science in Agricultural Economics with a focus on dairy policy from Cornell University.

Pagel joins five dairy industry colleagues currently serving on the Foundation board: Pete Giacomini, Verona, Wis., chief operating officer for AgSource Cooperative Services; Logan Bower, dairy producer, Blain, Pa.; Deb Reinhart, dairy producer, Chilton, Wis.; Loren Greenfield, dairy producer, Markesan, Wis.; and JoAnn Maedke, dairy producer, Eden, Wis.

Deb Reinhart has been elected chair of the board. Logan Bower will serve as vice chair and JoAnn Maedke will serve as secretary-treasurer.

Source: The Professional Dairy Producers Foundation