There’s just no easy way to summarize some of the issues facing dairy producers. Take this one on the “make allowance” problem. The National Milk Processors Federation is still trying to create a compromise on the situation.
As the dairy industry grapples with whether – and how – to best balance the interests of producers and processors that are all suffering from higher production costs, NMPF continues to push a compromise approach to resolving the make allowance dilemma, at least on an interim basis. At issue is a request by both cooperative and propriety dairy processors to increase the make allowance they are allowed to keep when they manufacture Class III (cheese) and Class IV (butter and nonfat milk powder) products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture held a hearing this past January on a proposal to raise the make allowances for those products, because processing plants are suffering from depressed profit margins due mostly to higher energy costs. Raising the make allowances would improve the economics of cheese and butter/powder manufacturing, but such an adjustment would also reduce dairy producer prices at a time when milk prices are at a three-year low. Read More
New Holstein Young Sires From Accelerated Genetics
The Accelerated Genetics PACE (Progressive Action Through Cooperative Efforts) program has released 10 bulls. The semen from these new holstein young sires will be randomly allocated to dairy producers participating in Accelerated Genetics’ PACE program.
You can visit their website to get the rundown on the animals in the program.
She Drove Away After 3-A-Day
The Midwest Dairy Association has been very generous with their latest “3-A-Day/Drive Away Sweepstakes” promotion.
June Dairy Month will likely forever hold special significance for Darlyne Hofer, Minneapolis. Hofer was the winner of a new Suzuki Grand Vitara in a dairy promotion that culminated at a Twin Cities Rainbow foods store. The promotion, called the 3-A-Day/Drive Away Sweepstakes was part of Midwest Dairy Association’s effort to help build demand for dairy products through the dairy checkoff. MDA teamed up with Rainbow Foods, Luther Suzuki, and Clear Channel Radio on the promotion. Read More
Alto Dairy's Colby-Jack Wins Again
Alto Dairy continues to collect awards. This time it’s for their Colby-Jack.
A 40-pound block of Colby-Jack cheese entered by Master Cheesemaker, Gregg Palubicki, at Alto Dairy’s Black Creek plant, won its class at the 2006 Governor’s Dairyland Sweepstakes Cheese and Butter Contest for this year’s Wisconsin State Fair. The block of Colby-Jack earned a score of 99.8 out of 100 possible points.
“We are excited to be awarded with top honors for our Colby-Jack cheese at this year’s State Fair Cheese Contest,” said Rich Scheuerman, Alto’s CEO. “American-style cheeses such as Alto’s Colby-Jack are very popular among U.S. consumers, and Alto is proud to be recognized for making the best Colby-Jack in the state.” In addition to taking first place honors with their Colby-Jack, Alto Dairy’s Low-Moisture Part-Skim Milk Mozzarella also entered by Gregg Palubicki took third place in its division at the contest.
Earlier this year, Alto’s Colby-Jack also won a world championship title in its class at the 2006 World Championship Cheese Contest. Over the past 10 years, Alto Dairy Cooperative has earned over 80 cheese awards in national and state cheese competitions. “Our award-winning cheese starts with high quality milk by Alto’s farm families and is then crafted by our talented and experienced employees,” said Scheuerman.
Packers Tailgate Party Planned
It looks like we’re all invited to a tailgate party by the Dairy Business Association. It doesn’t matter if you’re a member or not either. So why not enjoy a Green Bay Packers game with dairy industry friends?
The Dairy Business Association is hosting the 6th Annual Packer Tailgate Party on Friday, September 1, 2006 for dairy producers and industry professionals. Both DBA members and non-members are welcome. The tailgate will be held at the Stadium View Sports Bar parking lot beginning at 11:00 a.m. Following the tailgate, the Packers will be taking on the Tennessee Titans at 3:00 p.m.
This event is an excellent opportunity to network with the best in Wisconsin’s dairy industry. DBA Executive Director Laurie Fischer and DBA President John Vrieze will be on hand during the tailgate party. The “Ticket and Tailgate Package” includes corner or endzone Packers vs. Titan game tickets, all you can eat and drink at the tailgate buffet, and a sideline ticket upgrade is available. Attendees may also choose to attend only the tailgate portion of the evening. The tailgate buffet includes hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, side salads, chips, desserts, soda and tap beer.
Please contact Michelle at 920.788.7588 or mphilibeck@widba.com for tickets or more information. More information is also available at www.widba.com.
Bob Wagner Receives WDPA Presidents Award
At the recent Wisconsin Dairy Products Association Dairy Symposium, the 2006 Presidents Award was given to Bob Wagner.
Wagner received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana College in 1971 and his Masters of Science degree from UW-Madison in 1975. From 1971-73 he served in the U.S. Army in Fort Benning, GA. As a third generation cheesemaker, Wagner spent his school-year summers working at the family dairy plant. In 1976, he began full-time employment at Weyauwega Milk Products. In 1984 he became president of the company, a position he held until 2003.
In 2003, Weyauwega Milk Products changed its name to Trega Foods to reflect the mergers of Weyauwega and Simon’s Cheese and Krohn’s Dairy. In 2004, Wagner assumed the title of Chairman of the Board.
Wagner served three full terms on the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association’s board of directors. He was WDPA’s president in 1995. He also was active on the WDPA Convention and Audit committees. Weyauwega Milk Products was a member of WDPA from 1973-2001.
Witnesses For Senate Ag Committee Hearing
Here’s an update on who will be testifying at that Senate Ag Committee hearing coming up later this week.
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
A full committee hearing to review USDA dairy programs
Wednesday, July 20, 2006, 10:00 AM, SR-328A
Witness List
Panel I
Dr. Keith Collins
Chief Economist
United States Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C.
Panel II
Mr. Charles Beckendorf
National Milk Producers Federation
Tomball, Texas
Mr. Jim Green
Kemps LLC/HP Hood LLC on behalf of International Dairy Foods Association
Buffalo, NY
Mr. Ken Hall
Dairy Producer
Terreton, Idaho
Mr. Leon Berthiaume
St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, Inc.
Swanton, Vermont
Championship Dairy Product Contest Kicking Off
I hope these folks are in need of a serious calcium fix. The 2006 World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest is about to get underway. They’ve added a few categories like buttermilk, whipping cream, sherbet, sour cream based dips and additional whey categories.
This all-inclusiveness of dairy products makes this contest completely unique as the only national judging contest for all dairy products in the United States. Read More
CWT Export Assistance Bids
Here’s the latest announcements from Cooperatives Working Together:
Dairyline Markets In Review
Dairy Markets Week in Review
Dairy prices remain weak. Block cheese at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed Friday at $1.16 per pound, unchanged on the week, but 39 cents below a year ago. Barrel closed at $1.12, down 3 cents, and 39 cents below a year ago. Five cars of each traded hands on the week. The NASS U.S. average block price fell to $1.1789, down 1.1 cents. Barrel averaged $1.1725, down 1.6 cents.
Butter closed at $1.1450, down three-quarter cents on the week, and 49 1/2-cents below a year ago. Three cars were sold. The NASS butter price averaged $1.1291, down 0.4 cent.
Provided courtesy of Dairyline.