Harvesting High Moisture Corn at the Right Time

Cindy ZimmermanAnimal Health, Audio, Feed, Forage Forum, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Podcast

Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastHigh-moisture corn (HMC) offers growers some benefits that dry corn may not. Leo Brown, Pioneer Hi-Bred livestock information manager, says high-moisture corn is increasing in popularity because growers have a longer window of time for optimum harvesting, which reduces their field losses. Also helping to reduce losses is the availability of L. Buchneri inoculants specifically designed for HMC at the fermentation stage. When is the right time to harvest? Brown suggests when corn has reached black layer and when moisture is about 28 percent to 32 percent moisture content. Harvesting when corn is at the right moisture content is important.

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://zimmcomm.biz/pioneer/pioneer-podcast-41-wdd.mp3]

Leo Brown on Harvesting High Moisture Corn (5:00 min MP3)

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CWT Announces Retirement Numbers

News Editorcwt, Industry News

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has completed the farm audits of its fifth herd retirement round conducted earlier this summer, resulting in the removal of 24,860 cows representing 436 million pounds of milk.

At the end of the on-farm auditing process, CWT removed 203 herds in 37 states. It had received 607 bids from 41 states during the bidding process. As has been the case with its previous herd retirement rounds, most of the cows removed were in the western regions of the country. This round also removed 275 bred heifers. The average accepted bid in this round was $6.10 per hundredweight.

The totals for each region in this round include:

Northeast: 55 million pounds of milk; 29 farms accepted; 13% of total milk reduction; 2,776 number of cows; $6.06 average bid

Southeast: 64 million pounds of milk; 35 farms accepted; 15% of total milk reduction; 3,987 number of cows; $6.25 average bid

Midwest: 70 million pounds of milk; 76 farms accepted; 16% of total milk reduction; 4,124 number of cows; $6.01 average bid

Southwest: 85 million pounds of milk; 36 farms accepted; 19% of total milk reduction; 5,180 number of cows; $5.98 average bid

West: 162 million pounds of milk; 27 farms accepted; 37% of total milk reduction; 8,793 number of cows; $6.35 average bid

TOTALS: 436 million pounds of milk; 203 farms accepted; 100% of total milk reduction; 24,860 number of cows; $6.10** average bid

** = Represents an average of all 203 bids, not just the mean obtained by averaging the five regional averages.

Dairy Installs WasteSolver System

News EditorDairy Business, Equipment, Industry News, Waste Management

TyraTech Inc., the pioneer of safer, effective natural pesticide products and automated manure management systems, announces that the Rancho Teresita Dairy has signed an agreement to purchase and install the TyraTech WasteSolver™. This will be one of the first systems to be installed in California.

With ever-tightening environmental regulations, it is increasingly difficult for dairy producers to manage their cows’ manure. This new system is designed to provide an automated solution that efficiently and cost-effectively turns manure into ready to use bedding and organic horticulture ready growing media, which generates incremental profit opportunities for dairies.

The patent-pending WasteSolver is an automated manure management system that efficiently reduces environmental problems and lagoon maintenance by capturing 50% to 70% of suspended manure solids, and then naturally treating the solids in 24 hours through a method similar to pasteurization. The continuous and rapid process is designed to reduce the production of methane by avoiding composting and by aerating liquids that are returned to the lagoon.

Cornell Kasbergen, owner of Rancho Teresita Dairy, commented: “The automated WasteSolver system appealed to me on several levels. First, it replaces the need to devote labor and land to drying manure for bedding. Also, the income streams for bedding sales and potentially greenhouse credits provides incremental profit for our dairy. Lastly, I believe this system is environmentally efficient, which should help us effectively manage an increasingly cumbersome regulatory environment.”

Weekly CWT Update

News Editorcwt, Export

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has announced their updated export bids for the past week.

Two of the bids were from California Dairies Inc., of Artesia, Calif., for the following butter exports: 2,000 metric tons (4.4 million pounds) to Iran, and 115.2 metric tons (253,973 lbs.) to Honduras.

Four bids were accepted from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, Mo., for the following anhydrous milkfat exports to Mexico: 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.), 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.), 54 metric tons (119,050 lbs.), and 36 metric tons (79,366 lbs.).

Finally, one bid was accepted from Land O’Lakes of Arden Hills, Minn., for the export of 36 metric tons (79,366 lbs.) of Cheddar cheese to South Korea.

CWT will pay an export bonus to the bidders, only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.

With these accepted bids, CWT’s total 2008 export obligations are: butter, 18,514 metric tons (40.8 million lbs.); cheese, 1,351 metric tons (2.9 million lbs.); whole milk powder, 170 metric tons (374,000 lbs.); and anhydrous milkfat, 4,872 metric tons (10.7 million lbs.). The milk equivalent total of these products is 1.22 billion pounds.

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review
Cash block cheese gained another 11 3/4-cents the second week of September, closing Friday at $1.9025 per pound, but that’s 8 3/4-cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.8825, up 10 3/4-cents on the week but 10 3/4-cents below a year ago. Only one car of block traded hands on the week and four of barrel. The NASS-surveyed U.S. average block price fell to $1.7353, down 1.7 cents. Barrel averaged $1.6898, down 3.8 cents.

Butter closed at $1.66, unchanged on the week, 28 3/4-cents above a year ago. Only two cars traded hands on the week. NASS butter averaged $1.6090, up 2.2 cents. NASS nonfat dry milk averaged $1.3255 down 4.2 cents, and dry whey averaged 22.7 cents, down 0.8 cent.

Cash Grade A and Extra Grade nonfat dry milk lost 6 cents on the week and dipped to $1.30 per pound each.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.

Sonic Adds String Cheese to Menu

News EditorCheese, Dairy Checkoff, Industry News

Sonic Restaurants have announced that they will now offer string cheese as a side item in their Wacky Pack kids meal. Sonic is the first quick-service restaurant chain to introduce this side item.

“String cheese is a perfect food item to maintain a healthy balance, especially if your kids are picky about what they eat,” says Paul Macaluso, vice president of marketing for Sonic, America’s Drive-In. “Kids love string cheese and it’s a fun way to help them get the calcium, protein, and other nutrients they need as part of a balanced diet.”

SONIC is a partner in the 3-A-Day of Dairy program, an educational campaign from Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the American Dairy Association. In accordance with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 3-A-Day of Dairy helps educate consumers on the importance of consuming three servings of calcium-rich foods such as milk, flavored milk, cheese or yogurt to help build strong bones among young people.

String cheese is the first product introduced as part of an overall initiative to increase meal options for kids. Sonic plans to launch additional wholesome foods throughout the next year including fresh bananas this fall.

New Milk is Smash Mouth

News EditorDairy Checkoff, Industry News, Media, Milk

There’s a new milk on the market, and it’s the perfect drink to enjoy on a Sunday as you cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, in conjunction with Dean Dairy and the Steelers, introduced the milk last year and are excited to bring it back for a second season.

The official milk of the “Black and Gold” returns for another season in creamy chocolate, scrumptious strawberry and victorious vanilla everywhere Dean’s milk is sold in the Pittsburgh region.

“There’s always room on my team for Smash Mouth,” said Hines Ward, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who appears in a commercial for Smash Mouth Milk.

“Dean’s dairy products have been a long-time Pittsburgh tradition,” said Bob Jennings, director of sales for Dean Dairy in Sharpsville. “With Smash Mouth Milk we created a new tradition that Steelers fans, both young and old, can use to fuel their bodies on game day and every day.”

Named in honor of the Steelers’ trademark playing style, Smash Mouth Milk is available in 16-ounce bottles of lowfat chocolate, strawberry or vanilla. The eye-catching labels feature the Pittsburgh Steelers logo and a 3-A-Day™ of Dairy logo, which reminds families to get three servings of dairy each day, as recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Smash Mouth Milk contains 9 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, potassium and vitamin D, which will help fuel fans to cheer the Steelers to victory.

LOL to Take Over Supply Agreement

News EditorDairy Business, Industry News, Milk

Green Meadows Foods, LLC and the Dairy Foods-Industrial Division of Land O’Lakes, Inc. have entered into a long-term milk supply agreement.

“We are excited about our agreement with Land O’Lakes,” said Sjerp Ysselstein, president of Green Meadows Foods. “This milk will supply our cheese manufacturing capacity set to come online in early November.”

“This agreement affords our dairy cooperative another local outlet for member milk,” said Jim Sleper, director of Milk Supply at Land O’Lakes. “This is a win-win agreement. Green Meadows gains access to a consistent supply of high quality milk, and we gain another market for our dairy members’ milk.”

“This milk supply agreement will primarily affect parts of our current and future milk supply in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.”

Green Meadows Foods, LLC is a new cheese and fractionated whey product manufacturing facility with a startup capacity to process 2.5 million pounds of milk per day, which includes a master plan design to accomplish an expansion capability to 5.0 million pounds per day in the near future. Geographically poised to absorb the rapidly increasing milk supply of the southern I-29 corridor, Green Meadows is positioned for growth and offers a new milk market for the region’s dairy producers.

Initial production from the plant is scheduled for November 2008, the American and Italian cheese varieties will be marketed to Masters Gallery Foods, Inc. of Plymouth, Wis. and the various whey products will be marketed domestically and internationally.

Dean to Close N.C. Plant

News EditorDairy Business, Ice Cream, Industry News

Dean Foods will be closing its Pet Dairy plant in Hickory, N.C. on November 21. The plant produces ice cream and employs 120 people.

A Dean Foods spokesman said the plant is being closed in an effort to optimize the company’s supply chain in an increasingly competitive environment. Production will shift to other Dean Foods plants.

Dean Foods said affected employees at the Hickory plant will receive severance and benefits extension. Information about available job opportunities throughout the Dean Foods network will be shared with the employees, the company said.

Dean Foods is the largest processor and distributor of dairy products in the United States.

It sells milk, ice cream and other dairy products under more than 50 regional brands and private labels.

Conversations Initiated

News EditorAnimal Welfare, Education, Industry News

The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched a new initiative aimed at consumer concerns. The Conversations on Animal Care initiative will help consumers understand the care farmers and ranchers take of their animals during the production of meat, milk and eggs.

Conversations on Animal Care is a comprehensive effort that helps livestock producers share positive and personal insights on the care they provide farm animals.

In a national survey conducted online in January 2008 by Harris Interactive on behalf of AFBF, nearly 3,500 likely voters were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the following statement: “Farmers and ranchers in your state treat their animals humanely.”

A majority of voters, 57 percent, said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement. However, 34 percent of those surveyed responded “not sure.”

Survey participants were then exposed to a series of educational statements and messages about food-animal production. At the conclusion of the survey, participants again were asked if they agreed or disagreed that farmers and ranchers in their state treat animals humanly. This time, 72 percent agreed or strongly agreed — a jump of 15 points.

“This tells us that, when presented with basic information about the practical and ethical standards farmers and ranchers maintain, consumers respond positively,” AFBF Public Relations Director Don Lipton said. “The Conversations on Animal Care program is intended to give farmers and ranchers the confidence and tools to do just that.”

A major component of the Conversations on Animal Care initiative is a training program that teaches producers to share their stories effectively, help them find an audience and amplify their message of dedicated care of livestock. During two days of training, participants hone skills in sharing their personal stories with local audiences, the media and in one-on-one opportunities. They also learn of the important role on-line tools play in communicating to consumers.