Vilsack Discusses Dairy in South Dakota

Cindy ZimmermanGovernment, Industry News

Vilsack SandlinRep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Monday for a Rural Issues Forum at the farm of Jim and Barbara Hundstad in Bath, South Dakota. An estimated 300 South Dakotans attended the forum where representatives of farming and ranching organizations along with area producers had the opportunity to ask questions of Rep. Herseth Sandlin and Secretary Vilsack.

When the subject of the economic situation of dairy producers came up, Vilsack said USDA was working on a plan to distibute $290 million in direct support for dairy farmers approved last week by Congress. “The general principle for me is to get as much money in the pockets of producers as quickly as I can,” he said.

Vilsack also talked about the need for restructuring the industry. “I think really what will be next in line is a longer term discussion about whether or not we need to make structural changes in the way the dairy industry is currently operated so we no longer have these rather stark contrasts between boom and bust,” Vilsack said. “We need to figure out what changes, if any, we need to make to our support programs, to our marketing programs, to who’s included in those programs, to see if there is any way we can create greater stability.”

Rep. Herseth Sandlin agreed. “We must find solutions to address the economic crisis that our milk and pork producers face, and that many other livestock producers find themselves facing,” she told the crowd.

Translating The Gobal Dairy 500

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio, International

Irina ZablithAt an international conference like the Global Dairy 500 Conference translators are absolutely necessary. We have many of them here. During a break this morning I spoke with Irina Zablith (right) who is not only a translator but a veterinarian from Brazil. She’s translating into Portugese.

She says it’s simultaneous translation. They do get some pre-talk information like power point slides but not an actual written speech. She says it becomes challenging at times when a speaker talks very fast.

Irina says the global market has grown to the point of needing more translations so she started working with groups of Brazilians who would travel to other countries and needed her service. She travels to conferences like this several times a year.

You can listen to my interview with Irina below:

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Walking Fermenters Need To Be Healthy

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Animal Health, Audio

Juan TricaricoGoing back to basics and taking care of the “walking fermenter” was the subject of Juan Tricarico’s presentation at the Global Dairy 500 Conference. I just love that term and Juan explains it in my interview with him.

Looking into the future for the dairy farmer Juan says dairy farmers need to be efficient with nutrient use. He believes there needs to be a change in the way we feed dairy cows and that includes better use of forage. He says that a lot of producers are already feeding healthier diets that sustain reasonable milk levels. He does recommend that the forages farmers are working with are the best they can possibly have.

You can listen to my interview with Juan below:

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Future Dairy Trends & Technologies

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio

Jay JohnstonTrends and technologies in the diary industry was the subject of the first presentation on day two of the Global Dairy 500 Conference. Presenting was Jay Johnston, Ritchie Feed and Seed, Canada.

Jays says “it is not a fun time” in the dairy business. That means it’s time for dairy farmers to look at efficiency closer than ever. He says “we’re leaving 15-20% on the table.”

When it comes to trends he says “we’re trying to get that 20% back.” He says he’s working on a new protein product that will help with costs savings. Feed components are a very important he says.

He does encourage dairy farmers to keep smiling because he believes things will get better.

You can listen to my interview with Jay below:

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

The Challenge Is All About Money

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio

Daniel WilliamsOne of our domestic dairy producers attending the Global Dairy 500 Conference is Daniel Williams, seated to the left in the photo. Daniel has an 800 cow dairy in Madison, GA.

When it comes to challenges he says right now it’s “money.” That includes becoming more efficient and watching what you spend and on what. He thinks the Conference has been very helpful, especially one of the morning speakers the first day.

Like others I’ve spoken with, he says that all dairy farmers in the world are having trouble making it right now. He thought that getting to talk with other farmers has made him feel better about where he’s at with his operation right now.

You can listen to my interview with Daniel below:

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

International Perspective On Dairy Challenges

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio, International

Discussion Dinner TableIn the theme of global dairy farming we had discussion dinner tables with international people like at my table where we had farmers from the USA, Colombia, Brazil and South Africa.

There were six different topics for each discussion dinner room. Mine focused on silage but others included mastitis and somatic cell count control, reproduction, the importance of grazing, economics of scale: large herd sizes and toxins and toxicology.

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Silage Important Part of Feed Program

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Audio, Feed, Forage, Silage, Video

Matthew SmithDinner time last night at the Global Dairy 500 Conference featured multiple subject discussions. You picked your topic and then participated in a discussion after eating.

I attended the Silage Discussion Dinner led by Matthew Smith, Alltech. You can see Matthew getting his slides ready for the start of the discussion. He works for the company in New Zealand and has focused on silage during his career. When it comes to silage he says he encourages producers to “get excited about it.” He says the important thing to remember is how important it is as a feed ingredient. Deciding what seed to put in the ground is one of the most important decisions to make up front according to Matthew.

Here at the dinner his hope was to present silage as “good news.” He says cutting your way around the corners with silage in your operation is just not the way to go.

You can watch a portion of Matthew’s discussion dinner here.

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.

Jersey Association Announces Judges

News EditorIndustry News, Jersey Association

JerseylogoThe judges have been selected for The 57th All American Jersey Shows, sponsored by the American Jersey Cattle Association of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. The largest exhibition of Registered Jersey™ cattle in the world, the three shows of The All American will be held November 7, 8 and 9, 2009 in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.

Brian Sayles, Paris, Ontario, will officiate in The All American Jersey Show on Monday, November 9. This will be his second time in the open show ring, having previously served as its judge in 2001. Sayles also judged the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 1991. He has officiated at the World Dairy Expo, the Pennsylvania All-American Dairy Show and the Royal Winter Fair; numerous state fairs in the U.S.; and also the national shows of Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. His consultant will be Hank Van Exel, Lodi, Calif.

The judge of the 2007 All American Jersey Show, Wayne Sliker, St. Paris, Ohio, will return to Freedom Hall to place entries in the 56th National Jersey Jug Futurity. Sliker is well known in the dairy industry as a judge and Brown Swiss breeder. Previous judging assignments include more than 40 national shows in the U.S. and Canada, plus exhibitions in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan and Mexico. His consultant will be Chris Lahmers, Marysville, Ohio.

The National Jersey Jug Futurity is the oldest and richest class for dairy cattle. Premiums for the 2009 show are estimated at over $10,000.

The judge for The All American Junior Jersey Show will be Herby D. Lutz, Chester, S.C. Judge for the National Jersey Jug Futurity in 2000, 2009 will be his debut in the junior show ring. Lutz has officiated at many state fairs and national shows in Australia, Brazil and Colombia. Lutz developed the Sunny Day Jersey and Guernsey operation, then in 2001 became manager of Jersey Marketing Service manager. He is now sire analyst with Select Sires Inc. Herby and his wife, Amanda, own and operate Her-Man Jerseys. Craig Padgett, Waynesburg, Ky., will be the consultant.

The first and second place winners in each class of these shows will become the All American and Reserve All American honorees for 2008 by the American Jersey Cattle Association.

Dairy Farmers Donate Milk to Soldiers

News EditorIndustry News

20090912__biz_Milk_0913~2_GALLERYDairy farmers in Utah and Idaho have donated care packages to 350 Army Reservists serving in Iraq, despite their own economic hardships.

Two truckloads of packages, each filled with seven cartons of milk, cookies and other goodies, are going to soldiers from the Fort Douglas-based 96th Sustainment Brigade that left in July for a one-year tour of duty in Taji, 20 miles north of Baghdad. The logistics unit is charged with supplying U.S. forces with food, water, ammunition, fuel and other necessities while helping to organize the orderly exit of more than 130,000 military members and tens of thousands of civilian contractors.

The donations were made in the name of Dolores Gossner Wheeler, president of Gossner Foods, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of ultra-high-temperature milk (UHT), which needs no refrigeration.

On Saturday, Wheeler was honored during a picnic at the company plant for the $2.5 million in bonuses Gossner Foods gave its producers at a time when the wholesale price of milk is at a 30-year low. Thousands of farmers nationwide have been forced to borrow to keep running — burning up the equity in their land, animals and equipment.

“We were wondering how we were going to meet payroll, when our bonus check came in the mail. I couldn’t believe it, but the amount just about covered our payroll for the month,” said Lewiston dairyman Jackson Smith, who, like many northern Utah farmers, also had to contend with ruinous June rains that destroyed his first alfalfa crop.

“The bonuses came at an emotional time because we’re all struggling,” said Steve Bann, a dairy farmer from Preston, Idaho. “When the check came, my wife cried.”

More than 80 farmers and milk haulers donated $6,200 for the 350 care packages that will go to the Army Reservists. Gossner Foods gave another $2,600.

Each package has a letter saying the gift was made possible by Gossner Foods awarding bonuses to farmers “to help keep us in business. … Please accept it as a small token of our appreciation of the sacrifice you are making so that we may enjoy the freedoms of living in the United States.”

Wheeler called the farmers and employees at Gossner Foods “one big family. It’s sad, though, that people don’t understand what farmers are going through right now. They need help.”

Gossner Foods holds a military contract to supply UHT milk to U.S. troops stationed all over the world — except for the Persian Gulf. That contract was awarded to the Kuwaiti-based Public Warehousing, under federal law that permits the U.S. military to buy non-American products in combat zones.

Summarizing Global Dairy Breakout Discussions

Chuck ZimmermanAlltech, Alltech Global 500, Video

Conference AttendeeThe afternoon breakout sessions at the Global Dairy 500 Conference are summarized immediately in a group setting and the session is led by Dr. Pearse Lyons, President of Alltech. Here is one of the participants stating what his discussion table talked about.

We get a break after this session until a series of discussion dinners this evening which I’ll be participating in so there’s plenty more to come. The Conference doesn’t conclude until mid day on Wednesday.

To get a feel for the discussion you can watch a video of Dr. Lyons speaking to another discussion group participant.

2009 Global Dairy 500 Conference Photo Album

World Dairy Diary coverage of the Global Dairy 500 Conference is sponsored by Alltech.