Cool Dog Days

Chuck ZimmermanIce Cream

Cool DogI have got to have one of these. This is one great idea. Cool Dogs. I have no doubt this idea will grow. Sounds like Peter, made a smart move from his hi-tech industry job.

Ice cream shaped like a hot dog? Absolutely. This new invention by Peter Franklin of Concord, Massachusetts is a big hit with ice cream lovers all over New England. From baseball fans at Fenway Park, to visitors at Storyland in New Hampshire and Splish Splash Waterpark in New York, everyone agrees that COOL DOGs® are pretty cool.

This delicious treat is made of premium vanilla ice cream served in a delicious vanilla sponge cake bun, topped with hot fudge and whipped cream. Other custom toppings of your choice could include sprinkles, M&Ms, or perhaps a cherry — whatever you prefer. COOL DOGs® are made to order, and made to go.

Savor a Slimmer Summer

Chuck ZimmermanAudio, Education, Promotion

Slimmer SummerEveryone wants a spring break body. Now you can have a slimmer summer with 3-A-Day of Dairy’s 3-Week Healthy Lifestyle Start-Up Plan. They’re supporting the campaign with new radio spots that tell you how easy it is to incorporate dairy into your diet. Here’s a couple of them for you:

Listen To MP3 Banana (45 sec MP3)
Listen To MP3 Pizza (30 sec MP3)

Here’s what the slimmer summer plan is all about.

It includes tips for cutting calories, exercising and getting 3 servings of dairy a day as part of a healthy diet. Research shows that including 3 daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt in a reduced-calorie weight loss plan can help adults achieve better results, when it comes to trimming the waistline and burning more fat, than just cutting calories alone and consuming little or no dairy.1

To create the 3-Week Healthy Lifestyle Start-Up Plan, 3-A-Day of Dairy teamed up with Michael Sena, fitness expert, personal trainer and author of “Lean Mom, Fit Family.” Each week features healthy eating suggestions, calorie-cutting tips, strength training and cardiovascular exercises to help women take small steps toward their weight loss goals. There’s also a journal page that can be printed off each week to keep track of eating habits and physical activity. And just because it’s called a start-up plan doesn’t mean dieters have to stop using it
after the first three weeks. The plan is designed to be followed beyond the initial start-up to help meet your weight loss goals.

Butter Outbound to Honduras & Mexico

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Export

Cooperatives Working TogetherCooperative Working Together is helping another export transaction:

Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted two bids to help facilitate the export of butter and one to export anhydrous milk fat. They include two bids from Land O’Lakes, Inc., Arden Hills, MN to export 225 metric tons (495,000 pounds) of Butter to Honduras, and 240 metric tons (528,000 pounds) of Butter to Mexico. A bid was accepted from Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Kansas City, MO to export 255 metric tons (561,000 pounds) of Anhydrous Milk Fat to Mexico.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders once completion of the butter and anhydrous milk fat shipments is verified.

Can we Breed Mastitis Out Forever?

Andy VanceAudio, Biotech, Genetics, Government, Milk

Maybe not quite, but USDA is working on a solution. The Ag Research Service is working to determine if we can genetically engineer our cows to resist the infection altogether. Former President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Joe Cornely reports that although the science is the production, we may be nearly a decade away from actual in field success. Joe Cornely Wrap (3 minutes, mp3)

Iowa State Groundbreaking Planned

Chuck ZimmermanEducation, University

ISU GroundbreakingIowa State University is about to break ground on a new project. It looks like we’re all invited.

Iowa State University invites you to a groundbreaking ceremony at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 22, 2006, for the new Dairy/Animal Science Education and Discovery Facility south of Ames. Make plans to attend and learn how this state-of-the-art facility will enhance dairy science education, research and extension at Iowa State. The program will begin promptly at 2:30, followed by a reception at ISU’s Ag450 Farm classroom located just across the road and a quarter mile to the west.

For more information, call (515) 294-6022 or e-mail dkenealy@iastate.edu.

New Fly Bait From Elanco

Chuck ZimmermanAgribusiness, Industry News

Elector BaitThere’s a new product out for fly control you may want to look at. It’s Elector Bait, from Elanco Animal Health and was just approved by the EPA.

This novel bait is a yellow, granular formulation that is highly attractive to flies. Elector Bait provides ongoing, effective control of house flies through a unique, delayed mode of action, with no known insecticide resistance.

“The economic impact of flies is significant, both in terms of animal health and human nuisance,” says Eduardo Lopes, team leader, U.S. parasiticides, Elanco Animal Health. “That’s why Elanco continues to look for unique pest management solutions for producers – and we’ve delivered it with Elector Bait.” Read More

CWT Announcements

Chuck ZimmermanDairy Group, Export

Cooperatives Working TogetherHere’s a list of recent announcements from Cooperatives Working Together:

  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted four bids to facilitate the export of butter: three from California Dairies of Artesia, CA, to export 100 metric tons (220,000 pounds) to Russia, 75 metric tons (165,000 lbs.) to Kuwait, and 200 metric tons (440,000 lbs.) to Turkey; and a fourth bid from WestFarm Foods of Seattle, WA, to export 250 MT (550,000 lbs.) to Europe and Jordan. CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders, once completion of the butter shipments is verified. These are the first CWT-assisted exports destined for Russia and Kuwait.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted three bids to facilitate the export of butter, whole milk powder and anhydrous milk fat: They include one bid from United Dairymen of Arizona of Tempe, AZ, to export 20 metric tons (44,000 pounds) of butter to Mexico; one bid from Humboldt Creamery of Fortuna, CA to export 108 metric tons (237,600 pounds) of whole milk powder to Guatemala. This is the first CWT-assisted export destined for Guatemala. CWT also accepted a bid from California Dairies of Artesia, CA, to export 86.5 metric tons (190,300 pounds) of anhydrous milk fat to Mexico. This is the first-ever bid of anhydrous milk fat.
  • Cooperatives Working Together announced Monday that it has accepted a total of five bids to help facilitate the export of cheese. They include two bids from Dairy Farmers of America of Kansas City, MO to export 14 metric tons (30,800 pounds) of Mozzarella to Israel, and 19.2 metric tons (42,240 pounds) of Monterey Jack to Japan. Another three bids were accepted from Select Milk Producers, Inc. of Artesia, NM: 18.143 metric tons (39,915 pounds) of Cheddar to Mexico, 18.5 metric tons (40,700 pounds) of Mozzarella to Mexico, and 18.143 metric tons (39,915 pounds) of Monterey Jack to Mexico.

    • Leon's Dairy Diary

    Andy VanceDairy Business, International, Media

    Chuck introduced you to Leon the Milkman and his blog a few days ago, and now Leon has ventured where previously only folks like Webster have dared to tread – The Dictionary! Leon has unveiled his Dairy Dictionary to answer the questions he has been asked over his many years delivering milk. The 23 page document, available for free, is a glossary of dairy and related food terms. Leon’s goals are to educate foiks both in and out of the dairy business, as well as to combat the negative publicity facing the dairy industry.

    Control Odors Naturally

    Chuck ZimmermanGeneral

    Nat Enviro Natural Environmental Systems of Dallas, Tx has announced an all-new “all-natural animal health and odor control product featuring live microorganisms that are beneficial in maintaining the health of animals and controlling the associated odors.” According to a press release, Natural Enviro 6000 is a 100% all-natural, chemical free solution of billions of microorganisms that have been aged and fermented using a natural biological process. The microbes produce probiotics, which are absorbed by the animal, contributing to enhanced health and the reduction of shipping fever and handling related stress. Natural Enviro 6000 is also used to treat and prevent calf scours and reduce incidence of mastitis. The stuff sells for $49 per gallon or $2090 for a 55 gallon drum, and they accept orders on-line with Pay-Pal. Let us know if it works.