Video Contest Inspires Students

News EditorGeneral

ftslogo-300x253Students in kindergarten through college can enter the National Farm to School Program “Real Food is…” video contest through Feb. 8. The contest is intended to inform, inspire and encourage student advocacy to connect community, food, land and physical environment through Farm-to-Cafeteria programs. The winning videos will be prominently posted on YouTube in the spring and the winning directors will receive $1,000 for their cafeteria projects.

To enter the contest, students must create a 30-second to 3-minute video, completing the phrase, “Real food is…” while addressing:

* What real food means to them.
* How does what we eat affect our culture, health, economy, or environment?
* Why should your school cafeteria start or continue buying local foods?

The contest is sponsored by Action for Healthy Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes in schools. Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association and the National Dairy Council® are proud partners of the program.

Nutrition experts warn that Americans are overweight yet undernourished. To help get balanced nutrition in their diets, children are encouraged to eat adequate quantities of nutrient-rich foods – especially those foods from the Dietary Guidelines’ “Food Groups to Encourage”: including lowfat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The Farm to School program brings nourishing foods from local farmers to school children.

Got Milk Creators Offer Healthy Recipes

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Media, Nutrition

tn-499108_pickyeaters20The California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of GOT MILK?, has joined forces with children’s culinary schools statewide to uncover the delicious possibilities of nutritious foods like milk and vegetables — foods essential for healthy growth and development. The recipes developed by the children’s culinary schools have been outlined exclusively online.

The partnerships with Piccolo Chef in Culver City, Captain Cook’s Culinary for Kids in San Diego and Sacramento Culinary Center & Showroom yielded palate-pleasing, nutrient-rich recipes, like melt-in-your-mouth meatballs and creamy Nutty McButternut Squash Soup.

“Nutrition is a priority for parents,” says Steve James, the executive director of the CMPB. “By creating this partnership with children’s culinary schools, we’re offering parents recipes that go beyond hot dogs and pizzas. By instilling an appreciation of milk and nutritious foods at a young age, we can ensure that young people will have the nutrients necessary to grow strong and healthy.”

Chefs from throughout the Golden State agree that children can grow to like foods like spinach, broccoli and low-fat milk if they are incorporated into tasty dishes, sauces, and soups. Another tip: Get kids in the kitchen where they will experience the colors and aromas of food. Some studies show that involving kids in meal preparation makes them more likely to try new foods.

“We don’t believe in hiding the vegetables,” says Tina Fanelli Moraccini, of children’s culinary school Piccolo Chef. “But you do have to be creative. Children should be involved in the cooking process that way they feel it with their hands, see it with their eyes, smell it with their nose, cook it and eat it.”

All of GOT MILK?’s picky eaters’ recipes include low-fat milk to boost children’s calcium intake and to allow them to enjoy milk in different ways. The fact is the majority of children aren’t getting the calcium necessary for growth and to stay healthy. National Institutes of Health reports more than 90 percent of girls and 75 percent of boys ages 9 to 13 have inadequate calcium intake.

NMPF Urges Obama to Help Dairymen

News EditorGovernment, Industry News, Markets, Milk, Price

NMPFlogoWith a new leadership team arriving this past week in the White House, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today urged that they turn immediate attention to helping dairy farmers weather the crushing collapse in dairy prices.

“The plight of dairy farmers is just part of the overall ongoing story of the global recession, but it also needs to be the focus of the new Congress and the new Obama Administration,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “Given the suddenness and severity of the plunge in farm-level milk prices, a significant number of farmers won’t survive the winter with the prices they’re receiving.” Kozak noted that farm-level milk prices in February will be nearly 50% less than at the beginning of 2008, even though farmers’ input costs, including feed and fuel, are still above historic averages.

Contrary to rumors that NMPF has been seeking some sort of government dairy cow buyout in the pending stimulus package, Kozak said that NMPF remains focused on utilizing its six year-old Cooperatives Working Together program as the primary means to manage the dairy supply. CWT is a farmer-funded, self-help program that helps balance supply with demand. Kozak said that CWT is in the process of obtaining a line of credit with a major agricultural lender to help it augment its efforts in 2009, making a government loan guarantee unnecessary.

Kozak said that NMPF had already taken a series of steps to focus the attention of policymakers on the dairy crisis. These include:

Offering the USDA a list of actions it can take immediately to help producer prices, such as making it easier for cheese makers to sell products to the USDA under the dairy product price support program, using more dairy foods in government feeding programs, and resurrecting the dormant Dairy Export Incentive Program to boost overseas sales of U.S. products. That letter was sent Jan. 8th to outgoing Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. Kozak said newly-approved Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack should consider the letter’s recommendations, especially since the proposals are ones that USDA should be able to implement quickly.

Urging the USDA to ensure the maximum flexibility for dairy producers to choose the months they wish to receive their Milk Income Loss Contract payments. NMPF believed the USDA was sending confusing, arbitrary and overly-restrictive information to farmers about the parameters of choosing direct payments, and in a letter earlier this month, urged the department to reconsider its approach. USDA has subsequently sent clarifying instructions to its state and country offices to ensure that farmers are afforded more flexibility in signing up for the MILC program. Kozak said that the MILC program will begin issuing payments to producers on their February milk production, and thus getting the program operating correctly is of critical importance;

Preventing the agency from selling nonfat dry milk powder at prices lower than specified in the dairy product price support program. NMPF initiated legal action last month to stop the USDA from using a third-party auction service to sell the powder. The USDA subsequently dropped those plans, ending the need for further litigation by NMPF.

NDLC to Meet in April

News EditorGeneral

ndlclogo_final_2009_final_2c1Dairy industry leaders from around the country will converge on the Omni Interlocken Resort Hotel in Broomfield, Colo., just north of Denver, from Sunday, April 19 through Tuesday, April 21 for the 2009 National Dairy Leaders Conference (NDLC).

The NDLC provides a forum for key players in the dairy industry to facilitate discussion and interaction as participants examine key challenges and opportunities facing dairy producers and marketers. Dairy producers, cooperative executives and directors, processors, dairy suppliers and consultants, state and federal regulators, promotion organization executives, and academics are all invited to attend.

Program topics will include discussions about the increasing focus on product traceability, the possibility of changing the way milk is priced going into cheese, whey, butter, and powder, and first-person experiences of dairy producers who operate manure digesters. DMI will also host a presentation on future innovation for the U.S. dairy industry.

Program highlights will include:

Outlook for the Dairy Economy – As 2009 shapes up to be one of the toughest years on record for dairy producers, speakers will discuss how producers can deal with the collapse in milk prices, volatile grain prices, the credit crunch, and high energy costs.

Farm Labor Availability and Immigration Policy – This panel will examine the outlook for immigration policy developments in the coming year as dairy producers struggle to find and keep an adequate workforce.

Dairy Exports in Challenging Times – U.S. dairy trade officials and consultants will analyze how the global dairy market has changed dramatically in less than a year and how U.S. companies can respond to softening international markets.

Impact of Increased Spotlight on Animal Care – This session will look at anti-animal agriculture activist attacks on industry practices and technology, and the best way for the industry to respond, such as through the newly announced National Dairy FARM Program. Dairy FARM, or Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, will help demonstrate the industry’s commitment to the highest levels of animal care and quality assurance.

Climate Change Legislation – Speakers from Capitol Hill and regulatory agencies will examine the various options under consideration by Congress and the Obama Administration to control greenhouse gases and reduce global warming, and discuss which might be best for dairy producers.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review
Cash block cheese closed the Martin Luther King Day-holiday shortened week up a half-cent to $1.0750 per pound, but 57 1/2-cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.10, up a penny on the week but 65 cents below a year ago. Twenty one cars of block traded hands and one of barrel. The NASS U.S. average block price fell to $1.2230, down 12.4 cents. Barrel averaged $1.2630, down 1.7 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.1025, down a penny on the week, and 13 cents below a year ago. Eight cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.0772, down 4.2 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged 83.12 cents, down 0.4 cent. Dry whey averaged 16.92 cents, down 0.2 cent.

Price support purchases for the week included 7.7 million pounds of nonfat dry milk and 1.1 million of butter, raising the cumulative totals to 142 million and 1.5 million respectively. USDA announced that it will not use a private third party to resell nonfat dry milk purchased under the price support program as was announced in early December. National Milk has thus withdrawn its legal challenge to the earlier announcement.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Yes Pecan! Benefits Common Cause

News EditorIce Cream, Media

yespecan_featurebg“YES PECAN!” An Inspirational Blend of Amber Waves of Buttery Ice Cream With Roasted Non-Partisan Pecans is a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with a purpose. Customers who purchase the flavor at scoop shops during the month of January, will help Ben & Jerry’s who is donating the proceeds to the Common Cause Education Fund.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process. They are committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy. Their Education Fund conducts research, education, and outreach activities.

In addition to the flavor in Scoop Shops, for every person who joins Common Cause or donates $1 to the Common Cause Education Fund, Ben & Jerry’s will also donate $1. Visit their Facebook page to learn more.

National Dairy FARM Program Announced

News EditorAnimal Health, Animal Welfare, Dairy Checkoff, Industry News

cow-grazing-main_fullThe National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) have announced the introduction of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management. A joint effort of the two organizations, Dairy FARM has been formed to bolster consumer trust and confidence in the U.S. dairy industry and demonstrate the industry’s commitment to the highest levels of animal care and quality assurance.

“Increasingly, consumers want to purchase products from sources they can trust to do the right thing,” said Jerry Kozak, president and chief executive officer of NMPF. “The National Dairy FARM Program was established to enhance the trust our industry has with consumers and demonstrate the commitment producers have to animal care and the production of wholesome products.”

According to Kozak, Dairy FARM’s first step in reaching this goal will be to introduce a national on-farm animal well-being program and make it available to all producers. The Dairy FARM animal well-being program will be consistent with the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative’s (NDAWI) principles and guidelines. NDAWI is a producer-led effort to build consumer trust and confidence in the dairy industry’s commitment to animal well-being. More information on the NDAWI principles and guidelines can be found at www.dairywellbeing.org.

To accomplish this, NMPF and DMI are revising its “Caring for Dairy Animals” manual by incorporating the principles and guidelines into the new program. The “Caring for Dairy Animals” manual includes best management practices for a variety of animal care issues including animal health and on-farm environment, facilities/housing, nutrition, equipment/milking procedures, transportation and handling, and more. The manual will be updated to reflect current animal-health practices, innovations and technology.

The long-term plan of the Dairy FARM animal well-being program will be announced later this year. Co-ops and processors may choose to participate in the program to bring consistency to dairy animal care nationwide. NMPF and DMI will work with co-ops, processors and state and regional dairy producer organizations to implement it.

In order enhance the program’s validity, NMPF and DMI are also working together to develop third-party program verification to assure credibility and effectiveness. Additional Dairy FARM initiatives designed to assure the quality, safety and wholesomeness of dairy products will be introduced in the future.

NMPF and DMI have assembled an advisory panel to help guide the overall direction of Dairy FARM. The panel is comprised of dairy experts and industry professionals representing many facets of the industry. Members of the Dairy FARM advisory panel include:

* Stan Andre, California Milk Advisory Board
* Marguerite Copel, Dean Foods
* John Frey, Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence
* Mary Kamm, Safeway Inc.
* John Kennedy, Kraft Foods
* Shelly Mayer, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin
* Dr. M. Gatz Riddell, American Association of Bovine Practitioners
* Allen Sayler, International Dairy Foods Association
* Lynn Schmoe, Washington Dairy Products Commission

Vilsack Confirmed as Ag Secretary

News EditorGovernment, Industry News

The U.S. Senate confirmed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as U.S. agriculture secretary on Tuesday, a job he plans to use to promote renewable energy including biofuels and put healthier food in America’s school meals.

Vilsack was among five of President Obama’s cabinet nominees to be approved on a unanimous vote a couple of hours after Obama took office. A lawyer, Vilsack has no direct experience in agriculture but during two terms as Iowa governor, ending in 2006, was active on agricultural issues.

With 100,000 employees, the Agriculture Department has a portfolio that ranges from antihunger programs like food stamps to running the national forests, paying crop subsidies, promoting farm exports, aiding rural economic development and directing agricultural research.

As secretary, Vilsack, 57, will face two tasks immediately — working with Congress to renew USDA’s child nutrition programs, which cost more than $15 billion a year, and deciding whether to tighten USDA’s eligibility rules for farm subsidies.

During his confirmation hearing last week, Vilsack said the child nutrition programs, which include school lunch and breakfast, could be a tool for ending childhood hunger by 2015, a goal set by Obama. He said he wanted to bring more fruits and vegetables into schools and more locally grown food.

The related Women, Infants and Children feeding program, costing $6 billion a year, also needs reauthorization this year.

Obama has backed a $250,000-a-year “hard” cap on crop subsidies “so we help family farmers” and closing loopholes that allow “megafarms to get around payment limits.”

Scheibe Joins Midwest Dairy Association

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Industry News

rogerschiebeCongratulations to Roger Scheibe who is the new Director of Industry Outreach for the Midwest Dairy Association in South Dakota. Scheibe’s new position includes serving South Dakota dairy producers through a variety of industry programs and activities conducted by the farmer-funded promotion organization. Scheibe will facilitate the South Dakota Division Board as well. He will also lead Midwest Dairy Association’s sustainability initiatives across the organization’s nine-state area.

Scheibe has a long history of working with the dairy industry in South Dakota, including serving as Director of the Agricultural Services Division and Administrator of the Office of Dairy Inspection at the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. Later, he led the Department’s dairy development efforts. He also was the Dairy Services Director at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and was most recently Vice President of Dairy/Ag Business Development at First Bank and Trust in Brookings.

Scheibe is a graduate of South Dakota State University in Dairy Manufacturing and was raised on a South Dakota dairy farm.

WMMB Elections are Coming Up

News EditorIndustry News

shapefutureThe Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is once again encouraging dairy producers to help “Shape the Future of Dairy” by participating in the 2009 Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board director elections.

Each year, a portion of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) 25-member board is elected to three-year terms. WMMB directors guide the organization’s financial affairs, formulate and set WMMB policies, approve the organization’s mission and serve on one of two committees – Channel Management or Communications. All directors must be active dairy producers who sell milk into commercial channels and live in the district where they are nominated.

In 2009, eight districts are up for election. Those districts and their respective WMMB incumbent directors are listed below:

* District 2 – Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, Vilas (incumbent Connie Seefeldt)
* District 5 – Dunn, St. Croix (incumbent Kay Zwald)
* District 8 – Marathon County (incumbent Steven Sternweis)
* District 11 – Outagamie, Winnebago Counties (incumbent Robert Letter)
* District 14 – Jackson, La Crosse, Trempealeau Counties (incumbent Pat Kling)
* District 17 – Calumet, Manitowoc Counties (incumbent Rosalie Geiger)
* District 20 – Richland, Sauk Counties (incumbent Sharon Laubscher)
* District 23 – Iowa, Lafayette Counties (incumbent Jay Stauffacher)