Grilled Cheese Memories

News EditorCheese, Dairy Business, Media

grilledcheeseBreak out the tomato soup – April is National Grilled Cheese month, and Kraft Cheese is celebrating! Submit your favorite grilled cheese memory on April 16, and you may receive a coupon for a free package of Kraft Singles.

The first 1,000 people who submit their favorite grilled cheese memory on April 16 will receive a coupon for one free pack of Kraft Singles.

Kraft is sponsoring this year’s Grilled Cheese Invitational, an annual grilled cheese cook-off competition in Los Angeles. The event, which takes place April 19, is open to the public, and will feature professional and amateur chefs battling it out to see who makes the best sandwich.

During the event, Kraft will distribute grilled cheese sandwiches to the 100 participants and attendees.

Grilled cheese is the No. 2 preferred non-deli sandwich nationwide, Kraft said. While the exact origin of the grilled cheese sandwich is unknown, similar recipes appeared in Ancient Roman cookbooks. The sandwich started gaining popularity in 1920, according to NPD Group.

Jersey Cows Long on Productive Life

News EditorIndustry News, Jersey Association

jerseycowGood news for Registered Jersey breeders! The Jersey breed remains first for Productive Life among the six dairy breeds based on USDA genetic summaries.

Data published by the USDA Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory show that for cows born in the years 1997 through 2001, Jerseys have the longest average productive life of 33.7 months, or 1,029 days. A total of 196,713 Jersey cows were included in the evaluations.

By comparison, the weighted average Productive Life for more than three million cows of the other five breeds, including Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein and Milking Shorthorn, and born in the same five-year period was 27.7 months, or 844 days. The difference in favor of Jerseys is 185 days, or six months of herd life.

The trait of Productive Life is defined as – time in the milking herd before removal by voluntary culling, involuntary culling, or death. Its evaluation combines information from direct longevity, measured by DHI data on calving dates, disposal dates, reasons for disposal and lactation lengths, with correlated traits.

Look for Your Johne's Survey

News EditorAnimal Health, Industry News

A national Johne’s survey is now under way. Surveys were mailed to about 15-percent of each state’s dairy producers. The goal is to identify barriers and incentives for participating in the Voluntary Bovine Johne’s Disease Control Program. The information will be used to improve Johne’s-control efforts. For more information

Pa. DART Meetings Scheduled

News EditorAgribusiness, Education, Industry News, Training

The Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence invites all sales and service representatives who work closely with Pennsylvania dairy producers to their upcoming Dairy Advocacy and Resource Team (DART) meetings. This series of meetings will focus on an environmentally friendly new approach to lowering feed costs. The DART meeting are scheduled for April 17, 22-24, and 29-30 at various dairy processing facilities in the state

Pennsylvania’s dairy processing infrastructure will be showcased during the meetings, with each meeting held at one of six dairy processing facilities located across the state. Meeting participants will learn about opportunities for producers to transition their herd into lower-cost, free-stall housing set-ups.

“We are excited about this round of DART meetings, aiming for a better understanding of two on-farm management areas that can impact profitability; modernizing smaller scale farms and feeding efficient rations,” says John Frey, executive director of the Center for Dairy Excellence. “Touring several local dairy processing plants will add even more learning opportunities.”

Dr. David Kammel, from the University of Wisconsin, and Dan McFarland from Penn State Cooperative Extension, will lead discussions on dairy housing and low-cost solutions to increasing cow numbers.

The April DART meetings are scheduled for the following dates, times and locations.

* April 17 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at Galliker’s Dairy, 143 Donald Lane, Johnstown, Cambria County;
* April 22 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at Yoder’s of New Holland, 14 South Tower Rd., New Holland , Lancaster County;
* April 23 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at Middlebury Center Co-op., Route 287, Middlebury Center, Tioga County;
* April 24 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at Land O’Lakes Carlisle, 405 Park Drive, Carlisle, Cumberland County;
* April 29 from 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. at Sunbury Weis Dairy Plant , 100 South 2nd St.,
Sunbury, Northumberland County; and
* April 30 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Dairy Farmers of America, Rte. 18 and 208, New Wilmington, Lawrence County.

Mike Wright New Dir. of Global Marketing for Diamond V

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness

Mike WrightIt sounds like Mike Wright will be doing a little bit of traveling. Diamond V announced that he’s their new Director of Global Marketing.

In his role Wright will oversee sales and marketing efforts, with special emphasis on the dairy business.

Wright joins Diamond V with 17 years of feed industry sales and marketing experience. Prior to joining Diamond V Wright served as Business Manager for ADM Alliance Nutrition, where he was responsible for new business opportunities and marketing program development for key strategic products. Previously, he worked for ADM Animal Health & Nutrition, MoorMan?s Incorporated, Manna Pro Corporation and Countrymark Cooperative, Inc.

Mike understands the feed business and what producers need to stay profitable,? says Jeff Cannon, Senior Vice President, Planning and Business Development. ?He brings with him a wealth of industry expertise, and we?re excited for him to join our team.?

Shamrock Farms in Teeter Dairy Case

News EditorAgribusiness, Dairy Business, Industry News, Milk

roxieshamrockShamrock Farms milk is now be available nation-wide in the grocery store Harris Teeter. The store will sell Shamrock Farms 12-ounce varieties of chocolate milk, whole milk, and 2% white milk, as well as “Shamrockers(R), individual 8-ounce milks.

“Across the country, people are discovering that milk is a great-tasting, healthy beverage option they can feel good about drinking,” said Sandy Kelly, director of marketing at Phoenix-based Shamrock Farms. “Our fun and innovative packaging designs help draw kids and moms to our products, and our convenient single-serve options make it easy to incorporate milk into their daily routine. We’re thrilled to bring fresh, delicious Shamrock Farms milk, and our spokescow Roxie, to Harris Teeter shoppers.”

Protesters in N.J. Keep Garden Here

News EditorGovernment, Industry News

njagFarmers in New Jersey brought tractors and animals to downtown Trenton, N.J. last week to protest the state’s plan to close the Department of Agriculture. Organized by the New Jersey Farm Bureau, the state’s farmers want their lawmakers to know it’s important to “Keep the garden in the Garden State.”

The proposal to eliminate the Agriculture Department is part of Gov. Jon Corzine’s plan to cut $2.7 billion in state spending. State officials have said shutting down the department and having the environmental protection and health departments take over agriculture department functions would save $4 million.

Protesters say the move would jeopardize grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and threaten a host of programs, from the Jersey Fresh marketing campaign that promotes Garden State produce to the popular farmland preservation program. Some also fear that without a chief gardener in the Garden State, loss of farms to development will be accelerated.
“We need to preserve our agriculture heritage in New Jersey,” Barbara Byrnes, a protester, said

A brigade of farmers in tractors, front-end loaders and pickup trucks some full of hay rolled into Trenton late Tuesday morning. Some horse breeders brought their prized possessions to the steps of the capitol. Others carried baby lambs in their arms.

“We grow carrots for Campbell Soup. We grow tomatoes for Dom Pepano tomato sauce. And we grow wheat and grain for Perdue. Without the department of agriculture, you know, what next?” Byrnes said.

Corzine didn’t respond publicly to the protesters.

(AP Photo/Mel Evans)

NAIDC Announces Winning Teams

News EditorEducation, Industry News, Training

northamericanchallengeCollege students from across the country and Canada gathered in Madison, Wis. this weekend to compete in the annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC). First Place Platinum awards were given to teams from the University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, University of Illinois and Purdue University. The seventh annual NAIDC was hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and attracted a record number of 32 teams.

Each of the First Place Platinum team members received $200 scholarships.

The University of Minnesota’s team members included Amber Hazel, Evan Van Beusekom, Matthew Rosenfeld and Melisa Bauer. Marcia Endres coached the University of Minnesota team. Michigan State University’s team, coached by Marcus Hollman and Miriam Weber-Nielsen, included Andrew Reinker, Ashley Messing, Christine Hadley and Laura Zeldenrust. The University of Illinois’ team members included Elizabeth Johnson, John Mitchell, Matthew McCoy and Steven Fluty. Kate Cowles coached the team. Purdue University’s team, coached by Mike Schutz, included Brandon Miller, Craig Blough, Rob LaFollette and Steve Hein.

Second Place Platinum award winners, who received $100 scholarships, included: Iowa State University’s Doug Bjelland, Kate Phipps, Matt Jaschen and Tim Rauen, coached by Lee Kilmer. The Ohio State University team included Anton Henry, Eric Weitzel, Jesse Whinnery and Stephanie Metzger. Maurice Eastridge coached the team.

Kansas State University also earned a Second Place Platinum award; team members included Billy Brown, Darrel Rezac, Kristen Schulte and Michelle Sullivan, coached by Mike Brouk. Additionally, the North Dakota State University team earned a Second Place Platinum award. Team members were Christine Drake, Jayme Fiesel, Karissa Brobst and Kendra Hinnenkamp, with Dan Schimek serving as the coach.

Gold Awards (in random order) were presented to teams from Penn State University, Virginia Tech, University of Vermont, South Dakota State University, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, University of Guelph, California Polytechnic State University, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Maine, University of Florida, Delaware Valley College, Cornell University, University of Idaho, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Louisiana State University.

Teams (in random order) from the University of Maryland-College Park, Washington State University, University of New Hampshire, California State University-Fresno, Southern University A&M, Alabama A&M University, Clemson University, North Carolina State University and University of Massachusetts received Silver Awards.

SMI to Close Altanta Plant

News EditorDairy Business, Industry News, Milk

Southeast Milk Inc. (SMI), a Florida-based milk cooperative has announced that it will close its Atlanta Dairy facility. SMI’s decision to close the facility was announced to employees on March 10.

According to Calvin Covington, Chief Executive Officer, SMI anticipated operating the facility through May 9, 2008, but a recent tornado in the Atlanta area forced them to accelerate plans to close the facility.

SMI will continue to maintain dairy deliveries and operate from its Atlanta facility through early April and has been working with Mayfield Dairy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dean Foods Company to assist in customer transitions. Mayfield Dairy will assume the distribution routes and hire a number of Atlanta Dairy employees. Additionally, Mayfield Dairy will acquire certain assets necessary to provide continued service to Atlanta Dairy customers, including the Atlanta Dairy trademarks. Dean has also agreed to continue to purchase the raw milk produced by SMI members that was going to Atlanta Dairy.

SMI has been exploring a sale of the real estate associated with the facility to buyers interested in the property for retail or residential development.

Ohio Makes Decision on rBST

News EditorGovernment, Industry News, Milk

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has revised their state milk labeling regulations, giving dairy processors 120 days to comply with the new rules regarding rBST-free claims.

The ODA’s revision, which reduces the size of an on-label FDA-mandated disclaimer, came after a March 12 public meeting in which industry, processors and consumers expressed concern about the mooted rules that control the manner in which milk derived from cows not treated with rBST can be marketed.

The ODA says the regulations are intended to level the playing field between the two milk sources but processors who accept milk from producers who use rBST are opposed in principle to such labeling because they assert it unfairly implies milk derived from cows given rBST is compositionally different to milk sourced from cows not given rBST when it is not, thus misleading the public.

The ODA revision retains the FDA disclaimer but allows it to be half the size of the ‘free from growth hormones’ claim. Processors have been granted 120 days to comply.

The Washington DC-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said while the revision was a step in the right direction it did not “fully address the concerns raised by dairy processors and consumers.”

“These changes are a step in the right direction, but they still inhibit dairy processors from conveying information about the use of artificial hormones that consumers want to know,” said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president.

The ODA has scheduled a hearing on the revised rule for April 8, and the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review will review it during an April 21 hearing.