Shared Expectations for Better Corn Silage

Chuck ZimmermanAudio, Forage Forum, Pioneer Hi-Bred

Pioneer Hi-Bred Forage Forum PodcastAn up-front dialogue between the nutritionist and custom cutter can pay dividends, says Dr. Bill Mahanna, coordinator of global nutritional sciences for Pioneer Hi-Bred. A nutritionist’s ration plans can change year-to-year, so variables such as length of chop and degree of processing should be adjusted accordingly. If the nutritionist shows desirable corn silage samples to the custom cutter and clarifies needs in advance, it diminishes subjectivity and improves everyone’s satisfaction. Bill has suggestions for encouraging this face-to-face planning. Listen to them and tell Bill your experiences.

Listen To MP3 File Dr. Bill Mahanna on shared silage expectations (3 min MP3)

Forage Forum is a regular podcast which you can subscribe to on your computer. Visit our “How To Subscribe To Forage Forum” page for instructions. If you’re already familiar with podcasting you can use this link to subscribe or you can also easily subscribe in iTunes.

Almost Time For The Dairy Event

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Farm Show, International

The Dairy EventI don’t guess you could come up with a more simple and descriptive name for a dairy event. It’s called well, uh, The Dairy Event, and it takes place this year in Stoneleigh Park, Coventry in the United Kingdom.

The Dairy Event is Europe’s leading Dairy Show. It attracts more than 12,000 visitors a year and presents a unique opportunity for farmers, herdsmen, consultants, processors and retailers from all over the world to see the best dairy livestock, equipment, products and services available in the UK market.

The Dairy Event is organized by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers.

Bolins To Receive Ralph Keeling Award

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Industry News

Iowa State Dairy AssociationThe Ralph Keeling Award will be presented on August 11 to Dave and Pam Bolin who operate Beaver Creek Farm, a 75 cow dairy herd near Clarksville.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge and ISDA Board President Scott Niess will present the award at noon on Friday, August 11 in the Livestock Show Pavilion during the Iowa State Fair. The Ralph Keeling Leadership Award was established in 1967 to recognize individuals whose leadership efforts contribute significantly to Iowa’s dairy industry. It is presented annually to outstanding leaders, in honor of the late Ralph Keeling. Keeling operated a successful dairy farm and business, devoting much of his time and talents to help progress the state’s dairy industry. The Iowa State Dairy Association (ISDA) sponsors the Ralph Keeling Leadership Award.

Milk is Milk Organic Facts Campaign

Chuck ZimmermanEducation, Milk

Milk is Milk BillboardAlex Avery is on a billboard mission to educate both consumers and producers. Billboards like the one pictured here are in place along California Highway 99.

The Center for Global Food Issues’ Milk is Milk campaign unveiled two of three billboards that will promote its grass roots campaign of concerned consumers to educate food and dairy retailers (supermarket and grocery chains) regarding false and misleading label and marketing practices. These practices have become rampant in the organic dairy industry.

“These billboards will serve an important purpose,” said CGFI’s Director of Research and Education Alex Avery, “Consumers know that milk labels can be confusing. What they don’t know is that certain organic dairy marketing interests have made these labels confusing so that the consumer is misled into spending more money for a brand of milk that he or she thinks is somehow healthier or more nutritious. The fact is, milk is milk. And no matter what certain labels imply, no milk contains pesticides, antibiotics, or artificial hormones, and all milk – including organic milk — contains natural hormones.”

What's New at Accelerated Genetics

Chuck ZimmermanAccelerated Genetics, Products

Accelerated Genetics According to the August 2006 Accelerated Genetics newsletter, SOP® is a new patented technology designed to improve the environment for dairy cattle and calves. SOP® creates a healthier environment for livestock by reducing the pathogenic bacteria and stimulating beneficial bacteria. SOP® is not a disinfectant nor is it a bacterial enzyme – but rather a revolutionary new technology. SOP® is formulated for use in bedding packs, compost barns, free stalls, slatted or scraped barns and calf housing.

Senate Bill Would Affirm Manure Not Toxic Waste

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Government

National Milk Producers Federation The National Milk Producers Federation is supporting a bill introduced in the Senate that would clarify laws regulating industrial waste sites. At issue is whether dairy farms and other livestock operations should be governed by the same laws that were intended to address Superfund toxic waste sites.

According to the latest NMPF newsletter, the new bill, S. 3681, amends the so-called Superfund laws passed more than 20 years ago to affirm that those laws do not, and should not, regulate animal manure as a toxic waste.

“Manure happens on farms, and there are plenty of existing federal and state laws, including the Clean Water Act, that help ensure the nation’s waterways are protected from any negative impacts from the nutrients found in animal waste,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “But Congress never intended for the CERCLA and EPRCA laws to be applied to farming, and this new legislation will help ensure that the laws remain focused on regulating and cleaning up industrial waste sites.”

Lots of Stuff in New USDA-ERS Report

Chuck ZimmermanGovernment, Research

USDA ERS A new report from USDA’s Economic Research Service outlines trends in the dairy industry in recent years and what the future might hold. Among the report’s findings:

– Per capita domestic commercial use of all dairy products (milkfat basis) has grown only 0.4 percent annually since 1995.

– Cheese has provided most of the dairy-product demand growth for many decades. Per capita cheese consumption has more than doubled since 1980 to just over 31.2 pounds in 2004, with most of the growth coming from sales of natural cheese.

– Butter demand has varied over the long run but has increased considerably since 1995.USDA ERS Graph

– Current beverage milk sales are virtually the same as in the mid-1980s, a sizable drop in per capita use. Contributing factors include a smaller share of children in the population, the increase in meals eaten away from home, children’s greater control over their food consumption, and stronger and more diverse competition from other beverages.

– Since 1980, the number of milk cows on farms in the U.S. has declined by about 16.5 percent and the number of dairy farms (operations) has fallen almost 75 percent. As a result, the average operation has more than tripled
in size, from 32 to 111 cows. USDA ERS Graph

– The top 10 milk-producing States in 2004 were California, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, Michigan, Texas, and Washington. This reflects the western shift in milk production.

– In some southern regions, such as the Southeast, where the climate is less conducive to milk production and forage quality problems persist, producers saw and continue to see their share of total production declining.

The report also studied the impact of trade agreements and government programs on dairy trends. Overall, it’s a very comprehensive study of the industry worth reading and could be useful to lawmakers as they consider development of new farm policy.

Podcasting To Peru Dairy Farmers

Chuck ZimmermanInternational

You know that we recently introduced the first regular dairy podcast but did you know that podcasting is being used to bring dairy farm information to farmers in countries like Peru?

Not all farm podcasts have to be downloaded onto a digital audio player. I just found a story from earlier this year on bbc.co.uk. In Peru, telecentres (local broadcasting outlets) are subscribing to farm podcasts to obtain the information so they can broadcast it to local listening farmers. The organization behind it is Practical Action.

These telecentres, many of which are run on solar power, automatically download the programmes onto CDs to rebroadcast them on local radio stations. The charity has found it effective to distribute audio material to local people, who prefer listening in their own dialect to being sent the written word.

The podcasts are regionalized so that each area and telecentre broadcasts information pertinent to farmers in that area like, “In Chanta Alta, the podcasts concentrate on cattle-raising husbandry and on dairy production.”

Another creative way to use podcasting to bring news and information to farmers wherever they are!

Dairyline Markets In Review

Chuck ZimmermanDairyline, Markets

DairylineDairy Markets Week in Review

The cash dairy markets saw some strength the week of July 24. Block cheese finished Friday at $1.1625 per pound, up a quarter-cent on the week, but 22 3/4-cents below that week a year ago. Barrel closed Friday at $1.12, up a half-cent on the week, but 24 1/2 cents below a year ago. Sixteen cars of block traded hands on the week and 12 of barrel. The NASS surveyed U.S.
average block price slipped to $1.1552, down 0.3 cent. Barrel averaged $1.1478, down 1.9 cents.

Butter closed Friday at $1.20, up 4 3/4-cents on the week, but 39 cents below a year ago. 24 cars were sold. NASS butter averaged $1.1272, up 0.1 cent.

Provided courtesy of Dairyline.