Dairy Today articles from July 2008

Dairy Today archives from July 2008

BST reduces carbon footprint.
July 1, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today A new Cornell University study, published yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says using BST on one million cows saves 824 million kilograms of carbon dioxide, 41...

Groups sue Ohio over BST labeling.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today The International Dairy Foods Association and the Organic Trade Association filed suit yesterday with Ohio, claiming the state's new BST-free labeling law impedes free speech rights. The legal...

Sama[euro][TM]s Club introduces square milk jugs.
July 2, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Sam's Club, Wal-Mart's discount club store, has introduced square-shaped gallon jugs of milk to 189 clubs in ten states. The case-less milk jugs do not require crates or racks for shipping and storage, Sam's...

AFBF: Tracking milk and egg trends.
July 2, 2008... For the second quarter of 2008, shoppers reported the average price for a half-gallon of regular whole milk was $2.38, down 2 cents from the prior quarter, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The average...

New features added to the CLAAS COUGAR.(Claas of America Inc. enhance mowing machines)(Brief article)
July 2, 2008... Taking the proven performance and efficiency of the COUGAR, CLAAS has added roller conditioners to the lineup with the COUGAR 1400RC, giving producers the ability to choose the right mower for their field conditions. The COUGAR 1400RC (roller...

Multi-purpose disinfectant and sanitizer for dairy operations.
July 2, 2008... For the dairy industry, maintaining a healthy and sanitary environment is crucial in sustaining a prosperous operation. Activon, Inc. is aware of these concerns and offers a new EPA- accepted disinfectant status for EfferSan. EfferSan offers...

Grain prices could be near a top.
July 7, 2008... Robin Schmahl The cost of feeding cows continues to escalate with grain prices not showing any indication of changing this trend. In fact, recently the news of a hot, dry period for July caused more buying in grains. Previously, many...

BST more eco-friendly than organic.
July 7, 2008... Jim Dickrell A new study, published last week by the National Academy of Sciences, turns conventional wisdom on its head: Milk produced using BST is far more friendly to the environment than milk produced organically. The reason is...

Whole cottonseed doesna[euro][TM]t fit anymore.
July 7, 2008... Rick Lundquist Whole cottonseed from Georgia was pricing at over $450/ton last week, delivered to South Florida. Freight will push the price even higher to the Midwest and Northeast. At these prices, it's out of my rations. Whole...

Dairy industry distributes animal handling guidelines.
July 7, 2008... In an effort to reinforce the importance of caring for dairy cattle at all stages of their lives, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), along with Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP),...

Land Oa[euro][TM]Lakes celebrates 10 years in California; expands Tulare dairy plant.
July 9, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Ten years after creating a coast-to-coast dairy presence through its landmark unification with California's Dairyman's Cooperative Creamery Association, Land O'Lakes reports that its dairy production plant in...

Three California dairies to slaughter herds after TB detection.
July 9, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Three Central California dairies where bovine tuberculosis (TB) was detected in June are slaughtering or euthanizing 4,800 cows this week, USDA's Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) said today. ...

Dairy leaders form innovation center.
July 15, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo An Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has been formed to accelerate industry innovation throughout the supply chain in an effort to increase sales in the competitive consumer marketplace. Dairy producers,...

National DHIA offers college scholarships.
July 15, 2008... National DHIA offers college scholarships National Dairy Herd Information Association (NDHIA) is offering scholarships for incoming and continuing students at technical and two-year and four-year colleges/universities. To be eligible...

Cross-ventilated dairy housing conference/tour.(Conference news)
July 16, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today Kansas State University will be hosting a two-day conference and tour of low-profile, cross-ventilated dairy barns in Sioux Falls, S.D. September 10 and 11. The conference will begin at 8 a.m....

Livestock gross margin insurance for dairy.
July 16, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today For the first time, dairy producers in 32 selected states will be eligible for livestock gross margin insurance for 2009. The program is being provided by private insurance companies, but is being...

Beef Checkoff launches new Web site.
July 16, 2008... Byline: Dairy Today editors The new Cattlemen's Beef Board Web site, www.MyBeefCheckoff.com, is designed to be the place to go to find out how national beef checkoff dollars are invested and the results of those investments. "The site...

California Class 1 milk price rises but lags behind other regions.
July 16, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo California's average minimum Class 1 price for July 2008 has reached $22.63/cwt., up sharply from June's $20.37 and May's $18.92, reports the Dairy Marketing Branch of the California Department of Food and...

CWT accepts herd retirement bids representing nearly half a billion pounds of milk.(Cooperatives Working Together)
July 17, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) announced July 17 that it has tentatively accepted 209 bids in its herd retirement program, representing 25,474 cows and 440 million pounds of milk. This latest round of CWT's...

Diamond D Dairy wins Beef Quality Assurance Award.
July 17, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today Diamond D Dairy, Longmont, Colo., has been named this year's dairy winner of the Beef Quality Assurance Award, announced this week in Denver. Diamond D, operated by Jim Docheff and his family, milks...

June milk up 3%.
July 18, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today U.S. milk production climbed 3% in June over last year, USDA reports this afternoon. For the country, cow numbers were up 133,000 head over last June, but remained unchanged from May 2008. (The 23...

Fifth CWT takes out fewest cows, herds.
July 18, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today Yesterday's announcement of Cooperatives Working Together's (CWT) fifth herd retirement program marks the smallest number of cows and herds accepted. The fifth round will send 25,474 cows to...

Slowing demand impacts the market.
July 21, 2008... Robin Schmahl It was anticipated that milk production would slow significantly this year as a result of high feed prices. This certainly has not been the case. Production has steadily increased; in fact, the first half of the year...

Dairy Today eUpdate survey results.
July 21, 2008... Are you concerned about the loss of milk production-enhancing technologies? Yes, this is a disturbing trend considering increasing global demand for food. However, I think the pendulum will eventually swing the other way when it becomes...

Liquid feeds can increase intake, reduce the need for cornA.
July 21, 2008... Rick Lundquist If you're not already including a liquid feed such as molasses or a molasses blend in your rations, summer is a good time to realize the benefits. Liquids feeds can improve the palatability of a ration, increase intake...

Olympic hopefuls promote milk.
July 21, 2008... The Milk Processor Education Program, funded by America's milk processors, unveiled a new print ad in last week's Sports Illustrated that features 10 American athletes that will compete in the upcoming Beijing Summer Olympics. The print ad...

Could COOL drive National Animal ID?(Country of Origin Labeling)(identification)(Editorial)
July 21, 2008... Jim Dickrell In an ironic twist, the 2008 Farm Bill's Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements could speed the implementation of national animal identification. Why ironic? Many of the very people who favor COOL are also the...

Farm Bureau launches animal care initiative.
July 24, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) announced yesterday it has launched a Conversations on Animal Care initiative to address consumer concerns about the care provided to farm animals in the production of...

June dairy cow slaughter up.
July 25, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today USDA reported this morning that dairy producers sent 7,000 more cull dairy cows to slaughter through Federally-inspected plants in June than a year ago. www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/lstk0708.txt...

6,800 head to be removed in bovine TB buyout.(Minnesota Board of Animal Health )(Brief article)
July 25, 2008... Byline: Dairy Today editors The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has received 45 herd buyout contracts signed by cattle producers in the bovine tuberculosis (TB) Management Zone. The Board estimates that 6,800 head of beef cattle will be...

USDA issues interim final rule on COOL.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today Late this afternoon, USDA released its long awaited interim final rule on country of origin labeling (COOL). You can view the 233-page rule by going to:...

Minor differences among conventional, BST-free or organic milk.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today A study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association http://www.adajournal.org/article/S0002-8223(08)00513-0/abstract,...

California dairies face uncertain future for digester development.
July 28, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Conflicting air-quality regulations are making it increasingly difficult for California dairies to build methane digesters, a state dairy leader said Thursday. Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairy and its...

University of Illinoisa[euro][TM] Hutjens receives dairy award.
July 29, 2008... Byline: Catherine Merlo Mike Hutjens, dairy specialist with the University of Illinois Extension, has been named a Fellow by the American Dairy Science Association (ASDA). The award, announced earlier this month, recognizes Hutjens for...

Livestock Vantage Initiative introduced.
July 29, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today The Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC) introduces Livestock Vantage, a nationwide initiative to help create understanding, awareness and motivation for a unified livestock ID and...

National Dairy Board proposes regional seat re-allocation.
July 30, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today The National Dairy Board is proposing to re-allocate the number of regional member seats to reflect changing milk production in the country. The total number of board members remains at 36....

USDA issues interim final rule on make allowances.
July 30, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today USDA issued an interim final rule today amending Class III and IV make allowances in all Federal Milk Marketing Orders. The increased make allowances were proposed on June 20th, following hearings a...

2007 Florida dairy profits up.(Financial report)
July 31, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today With milk prices averaging $20.49 last year in Florida, producers enjoyed estimated profits of $3/cwt, says Albert De Vries, an economist with the University of Florida. Profits in 2006 averaged...

MU study: organic milk finishes last in taste tests.
July 31, 2008... Byline: Dairy Today editors Panelists in taste tests rated organic milk lower than milk from conventional or pasture-fed cows, according to University of Missouri food science research. "Clearly, organic milk was the least liked among...

NMPF asks for Canadian border closure.
July 31, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is requesting USDA close the U.S./Canadian border to further cattle movements in light of the agency's failure to track Canadian cattle into the U.S. Go...

Both sides claim victory in humane care court ruling.(New Jersey. Department of Agriculture and animal rights organizations regulations)(Brief article)
July 31, 2008... Byline: Jim Dickrell, editor, Dairy Today Traditional ag groups and animal rights organizations are both claiming victory in yesterday's New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on humane animal management practices. The ruling, says the New Jersey...