Charm Sciences Introduces a New Test

News EditorGeneral, Industry News, Milk

Charm logoVisit Charm Sciences at Worldwide Food Expo in Chicago, October 28-31, Booth S5445 to learn more about their new Charm®Chloramphenicol Test, a Rapid One Step Assay (ROSA) test that detects chloramphenicol in raw milk.

Charm Chloramphenicol Test has been made to meet regulatory requirements around the world. With a limit of detection of 0.1 ppb, it meets the Minimum Required Performance Level (MRLP) for chloramphenicol set by the EU. It can also be used to uphold recent law by the Russian Milk Federation which specifies all milk imports be free of chloramphenicol (Federal law No. 88-FL), as well as similar regulations such as those in the US and other countries that ban the use of chloramphenicol. In addition, the Charm Chloramphenicol Test complements the US FDA-approved Charm II Test for chloramphenicol (M-I-92-11).

Charm Chloramphenicol Test uses patented ROSA technology – combining fast, accurate detection with ease of use. It follows the same simple procedure and uses the same equipment as other ROSA milk tests – add milk to the test strip, incubate for 8 minutes and read on the ROSA Reader. The Pearl Reader stores results electronically for record keeping and analysis.

Chloramphenicol is a member of the amphenicol family of antibiotic drugs. While highly effective, chloramphenicol’s toxicity is well documented. In most countries, chloramphenicol has been banned for use in food-producing animals because it is linked to aplastic anemia, which can be fatal to humans.

Charm Chloramphenicol Test joins the Charm family of ROSA milk tests – the leading residue diagnostic tests employed by the dairy industry worldwide. Other ROSA milk tests include beta-lactam tests for the North American dairy market, MRL beta-lactam tests for international markets, as well as tests for tetracyclines, enrofloxicin, sulfa drugs and aflatoxin M1. Combination beta-lactam/tetracycline kits are also available. All ROSA tests follow a similar test procedure and can use the same equipment, providing efficiency and cost savings.

National Dairy FARM Program Launch

News EditorAnimal Health, Animal Welfare, Industry News

FARM national FARMThe National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), with support from Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI), formally launched the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management at a news conference during the 2009 World Dairy Expo, unveiling key components of the voluntary, nationwide program designed to bring consistency and uniformity to animal care through education, on-farm evaluations and objective third-party verification.

“Dairy farmers are passionate about the care they provide to their animals. The National Dairy FARM Program takes that producer passion and quantifies it to tell the story of dairy animal care to our customers and consumers,” said Jamie Jonker, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at NMPF. “This is a very thorough program that was created with input from all sectors of the dairy industry, including producers, veterinarians and other animal care experts. It includes current best practices, innovations and advances in technology.”

The dairy industry has an excellent track record of responsible management practices, said Jonker. “This program simply offers producers an avenue to demonstrate and validate their commitment to doing what’s right,” he said.

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Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

Cash cheese prices started the week on a down note but switched gears and ended Friday with the blocks trading at $1.50 per pound, up 7 cents on the week but 23 3/4-cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.4925, up 6 1/4-cents on the week, but 19 1/4-cents below a year ago. Fourteen cars of block traded hands on the week and none of barrel. The lagging NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price shot up 5.4 cents, to $1.4201. Barrel averaged $1.4290, up 4 cents.

Cash butter jumped 10 3/4-cents on the week, closing Friday at $1.35, but that’s still 40 cents below a year ago. Thirty four cars were sold on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.2209, down a penny.

Cash Grade A nonfat dry milk closed the week at $1.3250 and Extra Grade closed at $1.27, both were up a penny on the week. NASS powder averaged $1.0460, up 3 cents, and dry whey averaged 32.02 cents, up 0.3 cent.

Uncle Sam purchased 132,276 pounds of nonfat dry milk under the price support program this week. He’s not doing holiday baking yet but is testing new bags.

Dairy Export Incentive Program bid acceptances included 1.16 million pounds of Cheddar cheese, 81,570 pounds of Mozzarella, and 2.4 million pounds of butter.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

NMPF Applauds USDA Decision

News EditorGovernment, Milk

NMPFlogoNational Milk Producers Federation‘s (NMPF) long-term objective of limiting the pricing advantage enjoyed by the largest farms that bottle their own milk is about to be realized with the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to close the loophole for the largest such bottlers.

In a decision published Wednesday in the Federal Register, the USDA recommended that the producer-handler definitions in all Federal Milk Marketing Orders be amended so that only farms with bottled milk sales of three million pounds or less per month remain exempt from the pooling and pricing provisions. Producer-handlers with sales more than that will be treated the same as other bottling operations not owned by farmers, and will have to share their Class I proceeds with other farmers in their respective Federal Order Regions. The recommended decision will be open to public comment for 60 days.

“Once it is finalized, this ruling will accomplish what NMPF sought in its initial petition: to stop about a half-dozen large producer-handlers from cherry-picking Class I milk sales at the expense of other producers in Federal Order pools, and to discourage other handlers from growing through the use of this unfair exemption,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “These largest operations should no longer enjoy a regulatory loophole intended for smaller players. Once you’re bottling three million pounds of milk monthly, you’re a large plant, and should contribute to the marketing pools just like any other large Class I handler.”

Under present rules, a milk bottler of any size can avoid paying into the Federal Order pools in its market if it produces all of its own milk. This regulatory exemption provides a large pricing advantage, and reduces average pay prices for other producers who lose out on shared Class I revenue.

NMPF and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) jointly petitioned for new limits on these handlers back in January. In May, USDA held a hearing on the matter, and today’s ruling is the result of evidence presented at that two week-long hearing.

In addition to ending the exemption for farm-owned bottlers, the decision would also tighten the requirements in the Arizona and Pacific Northwest Federal Order markets, which previously had limited producer-handlers to three million pounds of sales in each market. The USDA website has extensive information on the issue. USDA’s decision supports NMPF’s position and frequently cites NMPF’s testimony in its conclusions.

Comments on the decision are due on December 21, 2009, and according to the timelines required under the 2008 Farm Bill, a final decision would be due February 22, 2010. This was the first hearing initiated under new timelines advocated by NMPF in the latest Farm Bill.

Fuel Up to Play 60 New Initiative

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Industry News

fuel up to play 60The National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC) have launched a new program called, Fuel Up to Play 60, an initiative aimed at tackling childhood obesity by giving youth a voice in changing the school nutrition and physical activity environment. The program will reach 36 million youth in 60,000 elementary, middle and high schools during the 2009/2010 school year.

The youth-led program empowers children and teens to take charge of their health and work with school leaders to create more opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity and to make more healthy foods available, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Since more than 50 percent of a student’s daily calories are consumed at school, the school environment is an ideal setting for teaching these healthy behaviors so they become lifelong habits.

“NFL is a proud partner of Fuel Up to Play 60. It is an important component of our overall NFL Play 60 campaign,” says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of staying fit and eating right, especially for America’s young people. This partnership is a powerful alliance to address childhood obesity and emphasize the role of daily physical activity in a healthy lifestyle.”

“National Dairy Council is honored to work together with the NFL on Fuel Up to Play 60,” said Thomas P. Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc., the managing organization for National Dairy Council. “Child nutrition, particularly in schools, has been a cornerstone of National Dairy Council for nearly a century. This program centers on youth taking the lead in changing the school environment through increasing opportunities for eating healthier and getting more physical activity.”

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Pfizer Adds Fort Dodge Products with Wyeth Aquisition

Cindy ZimmermanAnimal Health, Company Announcement, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Pfizer

A new Pfizer Animal Health was unveiled last week as Pfizer’s acquisition of Wyeth, including its subsidiary Fort Dodge Animal Health, was completed.

pfizerThe acquisition of many of Fort Dodge’s U.S. products allows Pfizer Animal Health to greatly diversify its U.S. portfolio, as well as broaden its offering in all animal health segments. Pfizer Animal Health now offers an enhanced portfolio in beef, dairy, and companion animals, as well as a redefined product line for swine, equine and poultry.

In the beef and dairy animal category, Pfizer is adding FACTREL® (gonadorelin hydrochloride) and the pioneer line of SYNOVEX® implants to its current cattle portfolio that includes DRAXXIN® (tulathromycin), DECTOMAX®, EXCEDE® (ceftiofur crystalline free acid), EXCENEL® (ceftiofur hydrochloride), BOVI-SHIELD ® GOLD, LUTALYSE® (dinoprost tromethamine), ORBESEAL®, and SPECTRAMAST® (ceftiofur hydrochloride). Pfizer Animal Genetics also continues to explore opportunities to apply genomics technology to livestock health and management solutions.

Cal Poly Holds off on Plan to Reduce Dairy Herd

News EditorEducation, Industry News

dairy-logoUpdate on a story we reported on several days ago: Cal Poly officials have put on hold plans to reduce the school’s dairy herd by 80 percent.

Alumni and dairy supporters came forward to help the university find a way to keep the herd economically viable in the face of plummeting milk prices, said David Wehner, dean of agriculture.

Several industry professionals sent letters volunteering to help Cal Poly develop a business strategy to keep as many of the school’s 400 dairy animals as possible.

“We’re very grateful that some of the nation’s most savvy dairy producers have offered to work with Cal Poly to help us devise a good business strategy,” Wehner said.

The herd consists of 150 milking cows as well as dry cows and young stock. Dairy Science Department Head Bruce Golden had proposed reducing the milking herd to 30 animals, enough to supply the needs of the Cal Poly creamery, which produces ice cream and cheese.

Prices for raw milk have dropped drastically in the last year to levels below what it costs to produce it. The state budget crisis has also caused cutbacks in the dairy science department’s budget.

If reductions to the herd are necessary, Cal Poly officials have promised to restore the herd as soon as market conditions improve.

Stoneyfield Honored for Reducing CO2 Emissions

News EditorCompetition, energy, Industry News

smartway_logoStonyfield Farm Inc., based in Londonderry, N.H., was one of 37 organizations nationwide honored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for success in cutting carbon dioxide emissions and fuel use in freight operations. Stonyfield Farm was awarded a 2009 “SmartWay Excellence Award.”


Stonyfield is among more than 2000 SmartWay Transport Partners setting an example in the transportation industry for addressing climate change by using clean vehicle technologies, managing freight logistics more effectively, and promoting the benefits of SmartWay to peers and customers.

Stonyfield, the world’s leading organic yogurt maker, joined SmartWay in 2008 as a shipper partner, having established several programs to significantly reduce the company’s transportation carbon footprint. Stonyfield educated all contracted truck carriers about fuel-saving SmartWay strategies, and provided incentives to join the program. Now Stonyfield ships 100 percent of its freight using more efficient SmartWay carriers.

“This award recognizes the hard work of a team dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint, and continuing to find ways to save money and the planet,” says Stonyfield Farm President and “CE-Yo” Gary Hirshberg. “As a yogurt on a mission, Stonyfield has continually worked toward minimizing our impact, by working smarter, working leaner and working greener.”

Stonyfield also reworked its distribution system to ship more efficiently. By consolidating loads, increasing order lead times, and rerouting, Stonyfield’s New England fleet achieved a 15 percent reduction in 2008 in the number of miles driven empty. By reducing the number of pallets needed for each load, requiring longer trailers and eliminating less-than-full truckloads, Stonyfield reduced the number of truck loads of product shipped by 13 percent between 2007 and 2008. Through these and other efforts, Stonyfield reduced its total annual CO2 emissions by more than 40 percent between 2006 and 2008 while growing its business. This is equivalent to taking 1,700 cars off the road for a year. In doing so Stonyfield also saved $2.5 million in fuel costs in 2007 and 2008 alone.

Herdsperson Training Scheduled in Wisconsin

News EditorEducation, Industry News, Training

pdpw-logoLooking to build your cows and people management skills? Then sign-up today for the “Dairying Duo,” herdsperson training scheduled for Nov. 11 and 12, in Arlington, Wis.

Developed by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Dairying Duo will include a one-day “Expert Cow Side Care” workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and a one-day “Mid-Management Matters” workshop on Thursday, Nov. 12. Workshop attendees can attend just a one-day workshop or pair the two together for a complete Dairying Duo.

During the Nov. 11 Expert Cow Side Care workshop, participants will rotate through five hands-on labs: transition cow management taught by veterinarians Dr. Chris Booth and Dr. Jeff Bleck, Kettle Moraine Large Animal Clinic, cow side technical skills taught by veterinarians Dr. Al Martens and Dr. Ralph Stowell, Waupun Vet Clinic; udder health, lead by Dr. Pam Ruegg, University of Wisconsin-Madison; locomotion scoring under the direction of Floyd Sutton, Great Lakes district manager for Zinpro Corporation; and emergency lame cow care taught by hoof care specialist Karl Burgi.

“Every lab will be extremely hands-on,” states Eric Hillan, a dairy producer from Ladysmith and vice president of PDPW. “Workshop attendees will work side-by-side trainers, use live cows and practice what they learn.”

The Nov. 12 Management Matters workshop will have participants capitalizing on their strengths while leveraging their ability to grow as a team leader or manager. Trainers Dr. Buck Joseph, The School of Business, UW-Madison, and Dr. Chris Hinrichs, Executive Education Department, UW-Madison, will outline manager/leadership styles as well as variables that help a manager know when and what style to use. And participants will practice their new skills and receive instant feedback.

USDA Issues Decision on Milk Marketing Orders

Cindy ZimmermanGeneral, usda

usdaThe U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued a recommended decision to adopt amendments to the producer-handler definition in all Federal milk marketing orders. This decision is based on testimony and evidence given at a public hearing held May 4-19 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The decision recommends that the producer-handler definitions of all Federal milk marketing orders be amended to limit exemption from pooling and pricing provisions of the orders to those producer-handlers with total route disposition of fluid milk products of 3 million pounds or less per month.

The public has 60 days to file comments. Send comments by using the Federal eRulemaking portal at www.regulations.gov. The recommended decision will be published in the Oct. 21 Federal Register.