Since I’m on Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board news, besides the board election they approved a new budget at its April board meeting. The budget will be invested in local, state and national promotion/marketing programs from July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007.
| Cheese Business | $15,609,000 | |
| Communications/Local Promotions | $ 9,900,000 | |
| Administration | $ 1,139,000 | |
| Capital Appropriations | $ 9,900,000 | |
| Contingency Fund | $ 324,000 | |
| Total FY2007 WMMB Budget | $27,155,000 |
It’s election time for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Nine people have been nominated and ballots will be in the mail.
All dairy producers who live within the eight districts up for election will be mailed ballots by DATCP. Elections will be held from May 8 through May 24, 2006. Producers who do not receive a ballot by May 8 should call Noel Favia at DATCP at 800-942-2474. Results will be announced in June.
The nominees are:
District 2 Connie Seefeldt of Coleman
District 5 Kay Zwald of Hammond
District 8 Sandi Cihlar of Mosinee
District 11 Robert Letter of Seymour; Daniel R. Angotti, Jr. of Kaukauna
District 14 No candidates: write-in election
District 17 Rosalie M. Geiger of Reedsville
District 20 Bradford A. McCauley of Viola; Sharon Laubscher of Wonewoc
District 23 Jay Stauffacher of Darlington
This looks like a great show to attend. I can only imagine the quality of the cheeses that get put on display. The 2006 World Cheese Awards are sponsored in part by the U. S. Dairy Export Council.
Judging takes place June 14. USDEC will present an award for the top U.S. cows’ milk cheese. The Council will also support U.S. entries by paying for shipment of cows’ milk cheeses from a consolidation point in New York to the UK.
You can find out more about the contest here.
Thanks to my main man Harry Siemens who is a fellow ag blogger for links to a couple of dairy stories.
One of them has to do with safety in the dairy industry in China. The other about a new dairy that looks like it will be built in South Dakota.
With higher energy prices this summer, you might be tempted to stretch that silage a little farther than you probably should. One University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Specialist indicates that would be a bad idea. You can listen to his comments and learn why: 
Spoiled Silage Discussion (1:24 mp3)
… by offering six scholarships to young agricultural students. Four scholarships of $500 have been awarded to incoming college freshmen including:
Christina Egner of Shelby, Ohio, who will be studying animal science at The Ohio State University this fall. The current Ohio Queen of Beef, Christina will be minoring in agricultural education and agribusiness.
Cassi Schriefer of Golden Valley, North Dakota, a potential veterinarian/chiropractor, will be studying microbiology at North Dakota State.
Sandra Kirchner of Clintonville, Wisconsin is planning to study both Dairy Science and Agronomy, focusing eventually on crops and dairy feed management, while continuing on at her family’s family Guernsey operation.
Shannon Muenzenberger of Coon Valley, Wisconsin will be attending the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, majoring both in agricultural communication and dairy science. She owns a herd of Brown Swiss.
Along with these four scholarships, Accelerated Genetics awarded two $1000 scholarships to current college students.
Jarred Huber, a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is majoring in Agricultural Economics.
Rebecca Tokach is in her first year of Animal Science at Kansas State.
The weather is getting nice again and the golf tournament announcements always soon follow.
This time it’s the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association’s Golf Outing which will be held Thursday, May 18, 2006 at SentryWorld Golf Club in Stevens Point, WI.
Once again, the WDPA golf outing will utilize the ever-popular scramble format. Using a scramble format will allow golfers of all levels and abilities to participate and enjoy a fun-filled day. This nationally-acclaimed course, known for its famous 16th hole “Flower Hole”, features acres of birch and pine trees, lakes and over 45,000 brilliantly-colored flowers. For its shear beauty and course design which allows all types of golfers to score well, SentryWorld is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top public golf courses.
Visit their website for registration information.
Here’s the latest from Cooperatives Working Together:
In a heartbreaking reminder that farm safety can’t be neglected, we have the season’s first report of a livestock-related tradgedy. Accelerated Genetics, one of our sponsors at World Dairy Diary, reports that a valued member of their team, Alan Lovstad, died from injuries sustained earlier this month. Lovstad was injured by a bull at the Westby, WI bull facility. Details of the incident haven’t been made public yet, but we do know that the incident occured April 11th at Accelerated Genetics‘ West View I Barn, and Lovstad died from head injuries sustained from the incident. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration is investigating the situation as well. Alan Lovstad was 57 years old.
Three land-grant universities are cooperating to teach and demonstrate effective, efficient, and sustainable manure handling strategies this July. Michigan State University, Purdue University, and The Ohio State University are working with the Midwest Professional Nutrient Applicators Association to host the 2006 Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo July 27th in St. Johns, MI.
Ranging from the Economics of Manure to Odor Control and Composting, speakers from five states will present the latest in research and application, with a number of presentations focusing on issues specific to the dairy industry, such as bedding innovations.
No registration fee is required, and lunch will be available. You can download the promotional flyer, or visit the event’s information website to learn more about the Expo.
