Dairy Girl Network (DGN), an organization offering programs and events supporting all women in dairy reaching across the nation, has welcomed three new dairywomen to the board of directors: Jennifer Fernandes-Hanf of California, Julie Patterson of New York and Lorilee Schultz of Illinois. Jennifer, Julie, and Lorilee recently joined the board which together with industry partners, allow DGN members to gain valuable connections, resources and shared experiences while supporting and encouraging fellow dairywomen.  

Jennifer Fernandes-Hanf was raised on her family dairy farm in Tulare County, Calif. She was active in her local 4-H and Jr. Holstein clubs and enjoyed raising replacement heifers, registered Holsteins and showing cattle. Jennifer earned a B.S. degree in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Jennifer’s career has combined her passion for the dairy industry with her keen interest in software and technology. The bulk of her career was as IT Director for World Wide Sires, Ltd before she joined the Milc Group team in 2019. As Vice President of Product at Milc Group, she heads up the organization’s people management and employee training software products. 

Julie Patterson is an owner at Patterson Farms, Inc., alongside her husband, as sixth generation dairy and crop farmers in Cayuga County, NY. Julie’s responsibilities at Patterson Farms, Inc., include financial management, HR management, safety training, social media, outreach and workforce development. Julie attended Alfred State College and earned an associate degree in architectural engineering and worked in that field for a few years after graduating. After going back to school, Julie completed the Cornell Dairy Executive Program in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Julie serves on the NYS Dairy Promotion Order Board, on a cohort for the National Young Farmers Coalition and is involved in Workforce Development for agriculture in her community.  

Lorilee Schultz manages Mil-R-Mor Farm, in Orangeville, Ill. On the farm, some of her passions include developing deep pedigrees, producing high quality milk, and incorporating practices that improve soil health and increase biodiversity. She graduated from Iowa State University with a double major in Agricultural Business and Economics. While in college, she enjoyed some terrific internships with Hoards Dairyman and the USDA Foreign Ag Service, but her love of cows brought her back to her grandparents’ farm. Lorilee is active in her local Holstein club, a YDLI graduate, and former president of the Holstein Foundation. She recently served as the chairperson for the National Milk Producers Federation Young Cooperators advisory council. 

The DGN Board of Directors is comprised of twelve voting members along with two advisory members. These individuals are elected representatives serving as dairy farmers and industry professionals. They oversee the overall execution of the organization’s mission. In building the organization and supporting dairywomen through connections, encouragement and inspiration, DGN is proud to continue to add to our board of directors with new leadership. 

Jennifer, Julie, and Lorilee join the current DGN Board of Directors who include Laura Daniels, founder and president, of Wisconsin; Rebecca Shaw, vice president, of Pennsylvania; LuAnn Troxel, financial officer, of Indiana; Carrie Mess of Wisconsin; Kristy Pagel of Wisconsin; Tami Smith of Pennsylvania; Mary Knigge of Washington DC; Julie Veldhuis of Idaho; Rosario Ibarra of Wisconsin. Advisors to the board include Leah Ziemba of Wisconsin and Dr. Kelly Reed of Washington. These individuals are advocates for advancing women within agriculture and are dedicated to the mission and vision of DGN. 

Learn more about the organization and the opportunities DGN offers atdairygirlnetwork.com. Membership is free for all dairywomen. If you are interested in becoming a member of DGN, go tohttps://dairygirlnetwork.com/join/.  

The Dairy Girl Network connects all women of the dairy industry, encouraging ideas and camaraderie in an effort to achieve personal and professional development. Designed as a welcoming network of passionate women involved in dairy, relationships will grow through shared experience, support and inspiration. 

According to Circana data cited by the National Milk Producers Federation, whole milk sales rose 0.6% in 2023, accounting for 45.4% of total fluid volume. Lactose-free milk rose 6.7%. NMPF executive vice-president, communications & industry relations Alan Bjerga said 2024 was exciting for whole and lactose-free milk. Whole milk accounts for 45.4% of fluid volume sold, and lactose-free milk outperformed almond-based alternatives, which fell 9.8% in 2023.

The second straight year of declining sales, plant-based dairy alternatives fell 6.6% to 337.7 million gallons in 2023. This was the lowest plant-based alternative consumption since 2019. Whole and lactose-free milk’s success shows that consumers prefer milk that tastes and looks like milk and is accessible to everyone who wants its benefits. Quality and diversity are promising building blocks for a prosperous future, and consumer choices can improve federal policy.

In 2023, 2 in 5 US shoppers bought almond milk alternatives, according to Mintel. Oat, coconut, and soya milk are all similar, with 15-20% of consumers buying them in 2023. 2 in 5 55-year-olds think non-dairy milk is healthier than dairy, while 1 in 5 think dairy is.

Taste has been a bigger factor than lactose intolerance in switching from dairy to plant-based milk. Plant-based milk is considered more nutritious, natural, high in protein, better for animals, and better for the environment by plant-based milk consumers.

Firefighters in Lordstown dealt with smoldering straw and prevented the fire from spreading. The straw was moved from the barn to a field to prevent it from rekindling. Other farmers assisted the family with equipment and equipment. The fire took over the barn, and hydrant issues initially posed challenges. Four hogs were saved, but another hog and its piglets perished. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Dairy farmers in Wisconsin are being recognized for their dedication to quality care for their cows. Tom Crave of Crave Brothers Farm was awarded the Advocate of the Year award by the Dairy Business Association for his role in shaping the dairy community. Crave’s farm, which has 2,100 milking cows, 1,400 heifers, and over 2,500 acres of cropland, has implemented sustainability practices and technologies, such as reducing tillage and crop rotations. He also launched a farmstead cheese operation in 2001, producing several award-winning cheese varieties. Crave was also instrumental in building the Clean Water Initiative, a partnership between DBA, Clean Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy, and the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association. The award was presented at Dairy Strong, a conference featuring presentations from dairy policy, farm management, and sustainability leaders.

Wisconsin dairy is a vital part of rural communities, with many dairy workers serving on boards for schools, towns, counties, and other organizations. The Dairy Business Association and Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin have announced Doug Grotegut as the inaugural recipient of the Community Builder Award at their annual Dairy Strong conference. Grotegut, who co-owns and operates Grotegut Dairy Farm Inc., a third-generation family farm in Newton, Wisconsin, has been a leader in the dairy community, milking about 3,500 cows and managing 3,350 acres of land. Grotegut played a pivotal role in hosting the Manitowoc County Breakfast on the Farm, educating the public about dairy farming in Wisconsin. His commitment to transparency is evident through the farm’s partnership with the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center. Grotegut’s dedication to his community and Wisconsin dairy is exemplary, as exemplified by his efforts to engage the public, promote sustainable farming, and actively participate in community events. The Community Builder Award is a testament to individuals or families’ role as a pillar of the community, exemplifying leadership, responsibility, and a deep-seated commitment to their community. Over 450 farmers representing over 280,000 cows, along with allied professionals, attended the two-day conference.

Dunkin’ is removing coconut milk from its menus, less than three years after adding the plant-based dairy alternative. The chain confirmed that it will be “bidding farewell” to coconut milk from US locations in the coming days, but will still offer almond milk and oat milk as dairy-free creamers. The elimination of coconut milk also means the end of its Coconut Refreshers lineup, which were colorful drinks mixing coconut milk and flavored iced tea. Dunkin’ did not specify why it is reducing its selection of plant-based dairy alternatives, but chains regularly adjust offerings if an item isn’t selling or becomes too expensive. Technomic’s Robert Byrne, director for consumer and industry insights, said that the cost of coconut milk plays a significant role as it is the most expensive nondairy milk for restaurants, while almond is the cheapest. Technomic’s Ignite menu data shows that coconut and soy milk, which appear more frequently than almond and oat, are disappearing from menus. Coconut milk joins the menu graveyard with the Dunkaccino, which Dunkin’ eliminated earlier this year.

Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced legislation to prohibit non-dairy substitute food products from using the term “milk” on their labels. Assembly Bill 952 would restrict the term “milk” to labels that contain milk from a cow or a hooved or camelid mammal. If passed and signed into law, the legislation will not take effect until at least ten other states pass similar legislation by 2031. Dairy organizations claim that federal guidelines already require this, but the Food and Drug Administration has not enforced it. The Wisconsin bill has bipartisan support, with 31 representatives and 7 senators in favor.

Missouri dairy farmer Alex Peterson, right, is USDEC’s new chair. Becky Nyman, left, a California dairy farmer, was elected as vice chair. In this June USDEC photo, they hold up Calli ice cream cups (made with U.S. milk protein concentrate) while in Southeast Asia on a USDEC-sponsored farmers mission. Download this photo here.

Dairy farmers Alex Peterson of Missouri and Becky Nyman of California have been elected to guide the U.S. Dairy Export Council as its chair and vice chair, respectively. The vote came in a December 13 meeting of USDEC’s board of directors.  

“I am delighted and thrilled to have such bright and capable leaders to guide us at this pivotal time,” said USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden. “As we look to the future, this is the right team to help the U.S. dairy industry continue to grow exports.” 

Peterson and Nyman share similar personal stories. Both left budding careers to return home to work on their family-owned dairy farms. Both have given their time and energy to serve the broader U.S. dairy industry in multiple leadership positions. 

Peterson earned a degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri and landed an internship in Washington, D.C. He found work on Capitol Hill exciting but missed the day-to-day joy of dairy farming. He returned home to Peterson Dairy, Inc. where he helps care for 150 cows on 1,000 acres in Grundy County, Missouri, with his parents, Brian and Barb Peterson, brother Opie, and niece Jandie Davis. 

Peterson has emerged as an influential leader within the dairy checkoff. He has served on the board of Midwest Dairy, representing 4,400 dairy farms. He also is a board member at Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff to increase sales and demand for U.S. dairy. In November, Peterson was elected chair of the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).  

Peterson became USDEC’s vice chair in 2021. He traveled to Mexico, Southeast Asia and other export markets on behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, impressing people with his friendliness, curiosity and accessible personality.  

In August, Peterson was named USDEC’s interim chair, stepping in for Larry Hancock, who had served four years in that role. 

“My job as USDEC’s chair is to bring fresh, innovative solutions to life and help solve some of the most pressing challenges the global dairy industry faces today,” said Peterson. “Ultimately, my goal is to advocate for U.S. dairy farmers on the international stage, making it as simple as possible for U.S. dairy exporters to establish footholds in new regions, develop their business, and meet the rising demand for dairy across the globe.” 

With a master’s degree in Agribusiness from Texas A&M University, Nyman worked for eight years for a company providing consumer research for agribusiness and consumer packaged goods clients. Nyman left that corporate job in 2011 to join her brother, Brad Nyman, as the business manager at her family’s 4th-generation, 1,200-cow dairy farm in Hilmar, California. Nyman Dairy Farms has expanded to include eight additional dairies and other ventures.  

“At a time in which there is so much change around the world — from public policy to the economy to consumer demand — USDEC is positioning our industry to turn these changes into opportunities,” said Nyman, who also serves on the DMI and National Dairy Promotion and Research boards. “The challenges we have experienced this year highlight the importance of exports to help build healthy markets that contribute to profitable margins for U.S. dairy farmers.” 

DMI founded the U.S. Dairy Export Council in 1995, bringing together milk producers, dairy processors, co-ops, ingredient suppliers and export traders in a unified strategic effort to grow exports. Since then, exports have increased more than 10-fold to $9.6 billion in 2022, an all-time high. Export volume last year was equivalent to 18% of all U.S. milk produced in 2022, which was also an all-time high.  

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and overseas in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe. The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record. www.usdec.org.

This year’s National DHIA scholarship recipients are Allison Ahrensmeyer, Baraboo, Wis. (parents: Larry and Laurie Ahrensmeyer); Makenzie Alberts, Pine Island, Minn. (parents: Eric and Angie Alberts); Cassie Bohnert, East Moline, Ill. (parents: Scott and Karen Bohnert); Wyatt Glessing, Waverly, Minn. (parents: Dan and Seena Glessing); Sydney Haag, Thorntown, Ind.  (parents: Brent and Beth Haag); Garrett Hastings, Chardon, Ohio (parents: Lad and Brenda Hastings); Ryan Hath, El Nido, Calif. (parents: Leon and Amy Hath); Trevor Hath, El Nido, Calif. (parents: Leon and Amy Hath); Kaleb Heins, Morris, Minn. (parents: Brad and Joni Heins); Colton James, Dodgeville, Wis. (parents: Dennis and Christine James); Lincoln Michaud, East Hardwick, Vt. (parents: Jeremy and Leslie Michaud); Makayla Moline, Saint Peter, Minn. (parents: Rob and Gail Moline); Kelly Niefergold, Lawtons, N.Y. (parents: David and Emily Niefergold); and Emma Roar, Sullivan, Ohio (parents: Jeremy and Jenny Roar).

For the 16^th year, National DHIA awarded a scholarship in memory of Joe Drexler, who worked for NorthStar Cooperative DHI Services (now known as CentralStar Cooperative Inc. – DHI Services). Cassie Bohnert is this year’s recipient. NorthStar members and employees, friends and family contributed nearly $10,000 to establish this scholarship fund.

Money generated from the annual National DHIA Scholarship Auction primarily funds the organization’s scholarship program. Investments and donations also help build the fund. Support the National DHIA Scholarship Program by donating $15 or more and receive a copy of The Big Book of Moo by Leigh Rubin. The Big Book of Moo features nearly 300 cow-centric cartoons. To order, e-mail BookOfMoo@dhia.org. To donate to the National DHIA Scholarship Fund, contact Leslie Thoman at 608-848-6455 ext. 108 or lthoman@dhia.org.

On July 1, 2024, the 2025 National DHIA Scholarship application will be posted on the National DHIA website at: www.dhia.org/scholarship.asp. Applications are due Oct. 31, 2024.

National Dairy Herd Information Association, a trade association for the dairy records industry, serves the best interests of its members and the dairy industry by maintaining the integrity of dairy records and advancing dairy information systems.

As angry farmers protest agricultural subsidy cuts and regulations, thousands of tractors and trucks have gathered in Berlin. After a week of protests across Germany, including the blockade of motorway on-ramps, organizers expect 10,000 people to attend Monday’s rally. Dissatisfaction in German society has fueled the protests.

The current government in Germany, led by the center-left coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP), is facing a crisis as the country faces a budget hole and price hikes for energy and food. This has led to a growing sense of anger among farmers who are facing subsidy cuts, blocking highways, driving into cities in their tractors, and bringing traffic to a standstill. In northwestern Germany, farmers allegedly supported by far-right extremists attempted to storm a ferry on which Economy Minister and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck was returning from a vacation.

In 2016, the Germans appeared to be the least receptive to populist policies, according to a YouGov survey of European Union states. However, things seem to have changed. Political journalist Albrecht von Lucke sees trends towards social division and dissolution in Germany, with people shifting to the fringes of the political spectrum. He believes that if this dispute is no longer accompanied by a willingness to reach compromises, democracy is eroded, and positions drift more and more to the fringes.

Political analyst Ursula Münch, Director of the Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, does not see it quite as dramatically, but she sees that the fringes of society are growing, referring to those who express strong discontent and carry out protests like the farmers and the train drivers’ union. Both groups of protesters have the power to paralyze large parts of the country.

Many view the fossil fuel phase-out as state intrusion, as farmers often say they cannot deal with the pace of reform and new regulations in environmental and animal protection. Smaller farms, in particular, say they are being given too little time to adapt to EU policy changes. When the news emerged in 2023 that the government was planning to phase out fossil fuel heatings quickly, this prompted a big public outcry. However, the coalition parties all declined in the polls.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is profiting from all the discontent, with its approval ratings continuing to climb. In the eastern German states of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, where state elections are taking place in September, it is polling as the strongest party by far. The AfD is fueling polarization, with some people believing that there is a threat only because a part of the population may be easily instrumentalized.

Journalist von Lucke is expecting 2024 to be a year of protest votes, especially as the problems within the coalition government show no sign of ending. The quarrels will continue, frustration will grow in the country, and we will be faced with protest votes.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed measures to support New York’s farmers, including dairy producers and establishing a “one-stop shop” for the agricultural workforce. The governor is committed to advancing agriculture and food production, and New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball emphasizes the importance of farmers and the agriculture sector. New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher is dedicated to working with Hochul and the state legislature to strengthen agriculture and family farms. Hochul is seeking $34 million over two years for on-farm fluid milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure to reduce transportation costs during pandemics and winter storms.

Hochul also suggested $21 million for a new Alternative Waste Management and Enhanced Precision Feed Program to help farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions, capture carbon, and scale up their operations. A new program to help New York’s agricultural labor is proposed, which would collaborate with Cornell University’s Agricultural Workforce Development Program to create a suite of resources.

Hochul envisions a “one health approach” to enhance illness detection and prevention, food safety education, and veterinarian care optimization to lessen dangers to people, animals, and the environment. Initiatives include increased engagement with New York’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Advisory Board, a new program to prevent the misuse of veterinary drug xylazine, changes to reimbursement and fee structures for on-farm animal health testing programs, and the establishment of a new animal health testing program.

A Minnesota dairy farm is facing legal action for allegedly failing to pay its workers in full and unlawfully charging rent for poor accommodation.

State Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a case in Stearns County District Court against Evergreen Acres Dairy, Evergreen Estates, Morgan Feedlots, and the dairy’s owners, Keith Schaefer and Megan Hill. Ellison issued a statement claiming that farm businesses in the Paynesville area systematically deprived vulnerable, low-wage dairy employees of more than three million dollars in wages by deducting regular and overtime hours from workers’ paychecks, failing to pay wages owed at the start and end of workers’ employment, and illegally deducting rent for substandard onsite housing that does not meet habitability standards.

Ellison claims that many of the impacted workers are undocumented and come from Mexico with little or no English proficiency. He claims the inquiry started after getting information from local citizens.

Due to generous support garnered from auctioning off the original Bonnie Mohr painting – “Enchanted Pastures” – the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) will award an additional $1,000 scholarship in 2024. The Professional Dairy Heifer Growers Association (now DCHA) commissioned the artwork to celebrate the dairy industry’s heritage and legacy.

To be eligible for one of DCHA’s $1,000 scholarships, applicants must be a college student and DCHA member; or the parent/legal guardian must belong to DCHA. Applications are due Feb. 21. An individual may only receive a DCHA scholarship once.
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must:
• Complete at least one year of post high school education
• Be an enrolled student in good standing at an accredited college or university
• Be enrolled in a field of agriculture (e.g., dairy science, animal science, veterinary science, agricultural technical program, ag communications) or in a course of study with relevance to agriculture (preference is given to dairy calf/heifer-related fields of study)
• Be a DCHA member; or the son, daughter or legal dependent of a DCHA member

Go to: https://calfandheifer.org/scholarship for more information and to apply.

Through this program, DCHA invests in the dairy industry’s future by offering financial support to a student focused on a career in agriculture. “The DCHA leadership team strongly believes in supporting higher education by investing in youth interested in pursuing agriculture careers,” said Clint Al-Ag, DCHA president. “Educational opportunities beyond high school provide an

excellent foundation for lifelong learning. Current students grow into future dairy industry leaders and DCHA wants to do its part in helping develop successful producers, veterinarians, advisers and consultants.”
Applications must be received by end of business day, Feb. 16. E-mail completed applications to: jodee@calfandheifer.org.

If you would like to support the DCHA Scholarship Fund, purchase an Enchanted Pastures print(s). To purchase a print, contact Sue Schatz at: sue@calfandheifer.org.

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (www.calfandheifer.org) was founded in 1996 based on the mission to help dairy producers, calf managers and those professionally focused on the growth and management of dairy calves and heifers. With a national membership of producers, allied industries and research leaders, DCHA seeks to provide the industry’s standards for profitability, performance and leadership, serving as a catalyst to help members improve the vitality and viability of their individual efforts and that of their business.

Atanu Biswas, a research chemist at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is developing a new approach to combat plastic pollution in the United States. Biswas’ latest project involves converting dairy waste, specifically lactose, into bioplastic polymers with potential applications in various industries and consumer products. The use of microwave technology has allowed Biswas to quickly create bioplastic polymers, and lactose may be biodegradable due to its disaccharide nature.

The challenge for scientists developing new bioplastics is replicating the characteristics of conventional plastics, such as hardness and flexibility. While lactose-based bioplastics may not fully replicate these characteristics, they can be useful for niche applications like insulation, cushioning material for furniture, footwear, rubber flooring, and medical equipment. With further work, Biswas believes they can be used for hundreds of applications.

Bioplastics can replace a significant portion of conventional plastic supplies but may not entirely replace them. However, they represent a “win-win-win situation” for industry, farmers, and consumers. Industry can present a cleaner and greener image while using renewable feedstock, while consumers appreciate a less damaging option for the environment. Farmers can find a use for waste, a win-win situation for all involved.

As the calendar turns to the new year, the potential for back-to-back blasts of winter weather has been unleashed. The impact on agriculture could be twofold: a possible cure for drought conditions in parts of the Plains and South, but stressful for livestock. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey predicts an active weather winter pattern in January, which is a hallmark of El Niño. Eric Snodgrass, a well-known ag meteorologist, also watches the change in potential winter weather this month.

The active jet stream is exactly what the U.S. is seeing, with multiple storms lined up for the start of the year. The storm that comes out late this week will be a decent storm system, but it will pale in comparison to the blockbuster storm that we see coming for earlythis week. Snowfall reports from the National Weather Service (NWS) Albuquerque, New Mexico station show impressive snowfall already falling in the Rocky Mountains. As of midday Friday, January 5, NWS reported 10 to 18 inch snowfall totals in the southern Rockies before it made its way across Kansas.

Early to mid-week, a different significant storm will emerge from the Southwest and Four Corners region, which could bring monstrous snowfall totals. The storm early next week will pack a punch with high winds, but it will also bring much needed drought relief. NOAA is warning of weather impacts that will span from Coast to Coast, with heavy snow likely in the higher elevation and blizzard conditions possible.

As the South prepares for the impacts of forecasted storms, moisture is crucial. The South has been on the wildest ride with moisture in the last 24 months compared to any other place on the planet. As the El Niño pattern takes hold, cotton country could finally see some relief this winter. The best chance for recovery and moisture is across the South, pockets of the Mid-South, Southeast, and East Coast. Temperatures are forecast to plunge with a possible Arctic blast, and weather models are pointing to extremely cold and extreme Arctic air also moving in.

The duration of El Niño is a question, as it could have a negative impact on the spring. If El Niño peaks and begins to fade throughout the rest of winter and into spring, the Midwest tends to do okay in terms of precipitation the following year. However, key growing areas of the South this spring and summer could be negatively impacted.

With active storms to start the year, there are still pockets of the country that need much more moisture to replenish dry soils before spring. The debate of just how long El Niño will last is heating up, and there is even talk of La Nina making a return this year.

The FAFSA Simplification Act, a recent bill aimed at simplifying college aid applications, may negatively impact farm families. The act removes a key exemption for farm and small business owners, removing the asset test exemption. This could increase college costs for these families. Previously, farm families were exempt from asset tests, but now those with an adjusted gross income over $60,000 will face these tests. This could increase the expected family contribution towards college expenses, potentially disqualifying many from Pell Grants and other federal and state aid, forcing them to rely on student loans. Congress is working to reinstate the exemption for farm and small business families, and affected parties are encouraged to contact their elected representatives to support this legislation.

A USDA report indicates that foreign-owned agricultural land in the US slightly increased in 2022, with the largest increases in forestland across Alabama, Michigan, and parts of Colorado. However, some states saw declines in foreign agricultural land ownership, including Arkansas, Illinois, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont. Canada continued to own the most U.S. agricultural land, followed by the Netherlands. China owned less than 1% of U.S. farmland in 2022, and Chinese investor-owned acreage declined between 2021 and 2022. The report provides a clearer picture of foreign-owned agricultural land in the U.S., but the USDA needs improved data gathering as interest grows on the topic.

Farm Bureau members will consider foreign agricultural land ownership policy at their upcoming annual meeting, with a policy recommendation to support better funding and enforcement under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act to ensure farmers have a better understanding of the situation.

Australia’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has updated its import regulations for dairy products to ensure compliance and market access. Products with less than 10% dairy content no longer require approval from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. However, a manufacturer’s declaration or food product label stating dairy content is less than 10% by dry weight is required for biosecurity compliance. In 2022, the Philippines exported $56,000 worth of dairy products to Australia, equivalent to about P3 million. The DTI also noted that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released rules outlining requirements and processes for registering and listing cosmetic product facilities and products entering their country. Facilities must renew their registrations every two years.

Food-tech start-ups are using precision fermentation technologies to create an alternative to cow’s milk, a product that is not widely known due to conservative consumer attitudes. The synthetic milk industry, which is still in its research and development phase, is expected to revolutionize the global dairy industry by creating at least 700,000 jobs by 2030. However, the future of this segment remains uncertain as conservative consumers are unlikely to quickly embrace synthetic products.

One example of a start-up working in this field is US-based company Perfect Day, which aims to showcase products indistinguishable from cow’s milk with the same taste, appearance, mouthfeel, and nutritional value. The milk obtained through precision fermentation, also known as’synthetic milk’, is environmentally friendly and has the potential to reduce methane and carbon emissions, water pollution, land use, and animal welfare concerns.

However, the National Milk Producers Federation has called on the US Food and Drug Administration to crack down on the emerging segment, prohibiting start-ups like Perfect Day from using’milk’ to describe their products. US farmers argue that calling products obtained through precision fermentation milk is technically incorrect and that the novel products should be labeled in a way that demonstrates their synthetic nature.

Regulatory issues may delay but are unlikely to prevent the expansion of the synthetic milk segment. If synthetic milk does not compromise on consumers’ desire for a fair price, similar taste, and texture, it will easily fit within current food systems.

Conservatism persists in non-EU markets, as the Italian government banned the sale of lab-grown meat in November 2023, sending a clear signal that livestock products derived from certain production processes are not wanted in the country. In Russia, regulations for greenhouse gas emissions are being put in place, but livestock farming has so far been excluded.

As precision fermentation technologies become more advanced, synthetic milk is expected to become more affordable over time. Australia-based All G Foods has plans to make its synthetic milk cheaper than cow’s milk in the short term, offering another pathway to increase sustainable food production.

• Operation Recovery, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, dairy farm families of Agri-Mark, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, and Liberty Hill Farm are leading the Grow America Farm Corps initiative.
• The initiative aims to address Vermont’s farm labor shortages by fostering collaboration among local farmers, new Americans, and supporting partners.
• Farmers with employment opportunities can match with new Americans seeking agricultural training and mentorship.
• Partners assist in placing and transitioning participants who gain housing through on-farm living spaces, professional skills development, and community.
• The initiative aims to enhance job accessibility and prioritize housing support within the state.
• Over 40 new American families are participating in the initiative, with interest growing among the state’s farmers and new Americans.

Vermont is implementing the Grow America Farm Corps initiative to address farm labor shortages by fostering collaboration among local farmers, new Americans, and supporting partners. The initiative aims to match farmers with new Americans seeking agricultural training and mentorship, and assist in placing and transitioning participants who gain housing through on-farm living spaces, professional skills development, and community. Participants can also access job placement assistance in agricultural manufacturing. Between January 2012 and October 2023, nearly half of Vermont’s dairy farms closed their doors. The Grow America Farm Corps aims to combine on-ground wisdom with online resources to enhance job accessibility and prioritize housing support within the state. Over 40 new American families fleeing hardship abroad are participating in the initiative, launched in late 2023. Interest among Vermont’s farmers and new Americans is growing as the initiative expands. To host a family, register to view available employment opportunities, donate, or learn more about the Grow America Farm Corps, visit https://GrowAmericaFarmCorps.org.

Milk prices have been a concern for dairy farmers in 2023 and 2024, with some of the lowest margins since the Margin Protection Plan’s inception. Milk production is tightening globally, with margins down below $4 in June and July 2023. Professor Joe Outlaw, an Extension economist at Texas A&M University, believes better prices are needed due to larger dairies experiencing increased operating loans due to higher input costs and interest rates. Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president of chief government and industry relations for Dairy Farmers of America, believes the existing Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) scheme is effective and is considering revising certain production history statistics for the new Farm Bill. However, according to Stephen Cain, the senior director of economic research and analysis at National Milk Producer Federation (NMPF), agrees that the DMC program will not be completely overhauled, as the current output limit is five million pounds. The Farm Bill has taken a back seat in the Senate and House agriculture committees, and if not enacted by February, agriculture may have to wait two years for a new farm bill due to the election. Farmers must begin making their voices known to ensure a successful Farm Bill in the horizon.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Chat GPT to mine data and make faster decisions. The technology allows farmers to quickly understand their operations and make informed decisions. Farmers don’t need to be AI experts but should be open to new tools. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is also using AI for consumer research, allowing them to conduct thousands of virtual conversations per day for a fraction of the cost. The technology is also being used directly on farms, with machines identifying and killing weeds using a red laser dot. Major corporations are investing heavily in AI due to its rapid and economic benefits.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is seeking passionate individuals to apply for the prestigious role of the 77th Alice in Dairyland until January 31, 2024. Recognized as a leading communicator in Wisconsin agriculture, Alice in Dairyland plays a vital role in promoting the state’s agricultural industry and its economic impact.

As a full-time spokesperson, Alice in Dairyland engages in extensive travel, fostering relationships with various media outlets and delivering speeches. The role encompasses social media utilization to narrate Wisconsin agriculture stories, developing and executing marketing plans, delivering presentations, and networking with industry professionals. Alice must possess in-depth knowledge of Wisconsin agriculture’s diversity, tailoring information for both urban and rural audiences.

Former Alice in Dairyland, Ashley Hagenow, describes the role as a unique opportunity involving teaching, communication, agri-marketing, public speaking, media engagement, relationship building, and more. Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in Wisconsin agriculture, possess public speaking experience, and have at least three years of background in communications, marketing, education, or public relations. Eligible candidates must be female, Wisconsin residents, and at least 21 years old.

The one-year contractual position, commencing on July 8, 2024, requires extensive travel with weekly in-person commitments at DATCP’s Madison office. The annual salary of $45,000 includes benefits such as holiday, vacation, and sick leave, along with the use of a state vehicle for official business. Health insurance premium reimbursement up to $450 per month and professional travel expense coverage is also provided.

To apply, provide a cover letter, completed application form, resume, and contact information for three professional references to DATCPAlice@wisconsin.gov or PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911 by 4:30 p.m. on January 31, 2024. Application materials are available on the Alice in Dairyland website.

Qualified applicants will undergo a preliminary interview on February 24, 2024, either at DATCP’s Madison office or via Microsoft Teams. Successful candidates are obligated to attend a two-day program briefing and press announcement on March 1-2, 2024, and a three-day final interview process on May 2-4, 2024, in Door County. Serving as Alice in Dairyland offers a unique platform to contribute to Wisconsin’s thriving agriculture while honing valuable skills for a fulfilling career.

While most cheese pizzas are topped with just two or three types of cheese, this pungent combination holds the Guinness World Record for the most cheese variations on a pizza, with 1,001 distinct types of cheese.

It was created by French pizza chefs Benoît Bruel and Fabien Montellanico, with assistance from cheesemaker Sophie Hatat Richart-Luna and YouTuber Florian OnAir, and beats Morgan Niquet’s previous record of 834 set in 2021.

The foundation of the pizza, which was topped with a two-gram cube of each cheese kind, had to be pre-cooked to prevent the dough from splitting under the weight. Softer cheeses were piled at the bottom, with firmer cheeses on top.

Many farmers and cheesemakers, according to Benoît, handed him their cheese for free because they enjoyed the notion of being part of a world record. In all, 940 of the cheeses were from France, while the remaining 61 were from different nations throughout the globe.

Benoît already set this record in 2020 when he cooked a pizza with 254 different cheeses. He has almost doubled that number after spending five months combing France for new cheese kinds.

His efforts won him a new record for the greatest exhibition of cheese kinds (1,001), unseating fellow Frenchman Philippe Marchand, who acquired a selection of 730 cheeses in 2016.

“It’s been a real feat being among the cheesemakers as well as being on the farms to meet the producers who are so passionate about their profession,” Benoît said in an interview with Guinness World Records. “I’ve been making pizza for 13 years. I created my own pizza recipes, and since starting my own company, my primary ambition has been to create pizzas with the most diverse cheese combinations.”

Two dairy start-ups from Ontario were recently crowned champions of a renowned $3 million business competition in New York State.

In the sixth annual Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Competition, SomaDetect got a $500,000 award and Cattle Scan received a $250,000 prize. Its goal is to establish a food and agricultural innovation cluster in Central New York State, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier – the areas around Ithaca, Binghampton, Elmira, and Corning.

SomaDetect has created a sensor and software system that gives farmers with accurate milk-based data from each cow at each milking. Real-time automated monitoring of essential dairy quality indicators such as fat, protein, somatic cell counts, and progesterone simplifies on-farm reproductive and herd health decisions, including early diagnosis of mastitis.

“We can use a list of cows that dry off and not treat the ones with the lowest somatic cell counts who aren’t at risk of infection, reducing antibiotic use from 40 to 60 per cent, depending on how aggressive the farm wants to be,” explains Bethany Desphande, the company’s founder and CEO. “We can also do pregnancy monitoring for 18 days to identify open cows.” We can really assist big farms, in particular, ensuring their breeding process is as efficient as possible.”

SomaDetect’s technology is used on roughly a dozen farms in Canada and the United States, ranging from 60 to 4,000 cows, and team members are located in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Alberta, and the United States.

New York is the fifth biggest dairy producer in the United States, after only California, Wisconsin, Texas, and Idaho, with around 3,500 dairy farms and 630,000 dairy cows. Winning teams must commit to operate for a year in the participating areas.

“Grow-NY is a huge opportunity to reach the farming community in New York and having that validation where they’ve looked deeply at your technology and the value it provides to farmers,” she said.

“We are always looking for innovative farmers who want to work with a new technology that can make small changes to their operation with massive impact on-farm.”
Cattle Scan, located in Guelph, has created a bolus sensor device that analyzes dairy cow biometrics in real time, such as activity, rumination, water consumption, and temperature.

Early disease identification, heat stress alarms, insights into low water intake, calving detection, and reproductive patterns are all provided by the system, resulting in improved herd health and higher production efficiency.

The bolus, which may be placed in the rumen of dairy cows at a young age, is accompanied by a sophisticated algorithm that automatically analyzes the acquired data, according to co-founder and CEO Denis Tokarev.

Cattle Scan has been collaborating with academics from the University of Guelph and the University of Wisconsin to verify the technology, and the company is growing its client base in both Canada and the United States.

“Through Grow-NY we are building momentum in the U.S. as well, and we are partnering with Dairy Farmers of America, one of their largest dairy co-ops who is selling our system,” said Tokarev.

“As the fifth largest dairy producer in the United States and with a diverse landscape of vendors and manufacturers, New York is an easy choice for us (for growth).” Having renowned clientele in New York would open the path for us to expand countrywide in the United States.”

Cattle Scan provides an on-farm trial beginning package for 50 cows for six months, which involves simply the administration of boluses and the plugging in of the antenna. The technology is intended to work in tandem with current farm management systems.

Hypercell Technologies, a Georgia-based start-up that delivers quick point-of-care diagnostics for the food chain, including early detection and control of biological pollutants from production to processing, won the Grow-NY main prize of $1 million.

In the run-up to the live finale in November, all 20 finalists got targeted mentoring from regional business experts. Cornell University’s Centre for Regional Economic Advancement oversaw the competition.

Michael A. Snyder, age 76 of Baraboo, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 surrounded by his children at home. He was born on May 26, 1947 in Iowa City, Iowa to Allen and Bernice (Hardman) Snyder. He graduated from Williamsburg High School and earned his BS in Dairy Science from Iowa State University in 1972. On June 10, 1972, he married the love of his life, Barbara (Frotscher) Snyder in Farnhamville, Iowa.

Mike’s professional journey began with the National Holstein Association and he was initially based in Marshfield, WI, and later in Brattleboro, VT. In 1980 he relocated to Baraboo from New Hampshire to establish the Wisconsin Holstein Association Office and served as the general manager from 1980 to 1985. From 1985 to 1998, he owned and operated Snyder Sales, a cattle auction business. Mike contributed his expertise to various agricultural firms before retiring from the National Holstein Association in 2010. He remained a respected and active professional in the dairy industry and found great joy in working with youth and judging cattle shows at local and state fairs. He annually volunteered in the show ring at the World Dairy Expo in Madison.

Believing in the power of community involvement, Mike was a member of the First United Methodist Church, contributing to various committees, including the finance committee. He was a member of the Baraboo Elks Club and Jaycees and Jaycettes. He served as the president of the Baraboo Area Chamber of Commerce and dedicated thirteen years as president of the Baraboo Country Club where he played a pivotal role in the creation of the current clubhouse.

Mike’s zest for life was unparalleled, and he formed meaningful connections with everyone he encountered. An exceptional grandfather, he took immense pride in the accomplishments of his family. Mike is survived by his children Jeffrey (Melanie) Snyder of Wynnewood, PA and Laura (Mike) Henrickson of Eagan, MN; his four grandchildren Zach, Julia, Max, and Madeline; his brother Dick (Pat Smith) of Orlando, FL; his sister-in-law Sally (Dean) Peterson of Madrid, IA; a niece and nephew Ben (Danny Cope) Frotscher of Phoenix, AZ and Nicole (Kyle) Kirchoff of Ankeny, IA; other relatives and many friends including Janell M. Miller who was a dear companion for many years.

He was preceded in death by his wife Barb; his parents Allen and Bernice Snyder, his father and mother-in-law George and Betty Frotscher; and his brother-in-law Kent Frotscher.

A celebration of a life well lived will be held in the spring. Mike’s positive spirit and larger than life personality touched many even during challenging times. The family will announce preferred organizations for memorial gifts shortly. Redlin-Ertz Funeral Home is assisting the family.

French food group Danone (DANO.PA) said on Tuesday it had signed an agreement to sell its premium organic dairy units in the United States to investment firm Platinum Equity.

The sale of the Horizon Organic and Wallaby businesses is part of the company’s portfolio review and asset rotation program the company announced in March 2022, Danone said in a statement, without disclosing the financial details of the deal.

“This sale, once completed, will allow us to concentrate further on our current portfolio of strong, health-focused brands and reinvest in our growth priorities,” said Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique.

Danone will retain a minority stake in the business, the company added.

Danone declined to comment on the deal value, but added that the sale would have an impact on its 2024 financials.

Platinum Equity did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the deal value of this transaction.

The Paris-based company said in January last year that it was exploring strategic options, including a potential sale, for its organic dairy activity in the U.S.

Danone’s organic dairy activity in the U.S. comprised of the Horizon Organic and Wallaby businesses with a portfolio of organic dairy products, including milk, creamers, yogurt, cheese and butter.

It represented approximately 3% of Danone’s global revenues and had a dilutive impact on Danone’s like-for-like sales growth and recurring operating margin in 2022.

As the end of the year approaches, one journey that farmers have still to make is to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to pick a coverage level to participate in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program in 2024. This is due to the fact that no statement has yet been made about the registration period for the next year.

Of course, dairy farmers are hoping for higher milk prices in order to get a more lucrative milk check next year. However, the forecast for first-quarter milk prices does not seem to be good, prompting farmers to switch to plan B, which is expecting DMC payments generate a significant amount in the next year, like they did in 2023.

According to the October milk marketings report, DMC indemnification payments totaled $1.27 billion in the first ten months of 2023, average $74,453 per dairy company. The 2023 DMC program registered around 17,059 dairy businesses, accounting for approximately 74.5% of enterprises with documented production history. All indemnification payments made in 2023 are subject to a 5.7% sequestration reduction.

Ever.Ag’s director of risk management, Katie Burgess, encourages growers to continue to participate in the USDA’s DMC program in the future.

“It has a strong track record of generating producer payouts when margins get squeezed,” she said earlier this month at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.

DMC enables farmers to choose a margin between the milk price and the average feed cost to decide the degree of help they get.

The DMC program was established by the 2018 farm bill to provide farmers with protection when the gap between the all-milk price and the average feed price falls below the producer-selected margin trigger.

According to FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, Dairy Margin Coverage is a critical risk management tool for dairy farms to financially withstand the various and sometimes unanticipated factors that negatively effect milk market pricing.

According to Sarina Sharp of the Daily Dairy Report, the dairy safety net has helped to absorb some—but not all—of the losses on dairy farm financial sheets.

The current Farm Bill was extended for one year until September 30, 2024, by a continuing resolution approved and signed into law earlier this year. This means that the present farm bill scheme will be extended until 2024. DMC programs will continue to operate for at least another year. However, for the time being, producers are waiting for the announcement of 2024 DMC sign-ups. Stay tuned to dairyherd.com for DMC program updates.

According to the USDA, red meat output fell marginally in November compared to the previous year.

Total beef output fell 6% to 2.28 billion pounds, as increased slaughter more than offset larger dressed weights.

Pork output climbed by 2% to 2.39 billion pounds, while total slaughter increased by 2%.

From January to November 2023, red meat output is down 2% from 2022, owing mostly to a 5% drop in cumulative beef production.

Beef cow slaughter was practically identical compared to the previous year, indicating that liquidation has accelerated later in 2023 (the nominal drop in beef cow slaughter is also due to a smaller herd).

According to the USDA, the November dairy cow slaughter was 229,700 head, a decrease of 13,200 from October and 21,200 from November 2022.

Kuehnert Dairy in Indiana is growing, thanks to a recent grant from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance.

The $100,000 grant will be used to build a cheese curd production facility on their property. According to owner Andrew Kuehnert, the plant will be able to milk in the morning and produce a value-added product by the afternoon.

According to him, the funds would be utilized to buy cheese-making equipment, product packaging, and marketing and promotion services.

Kuehnert says he’s wanted to make farm-fresh cheese curds since he realized Indiana didn’t have them. According to him, the idea is to sell at their on-site retail shop, local supermarkets, and directly to customers online.

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) have formed the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA). It provided roughly $4 million in grants to dairy-related companies throughout the Midwest.

Most Wisconsin workers who are injured on the job are covered by the state’s workers’ compensation system, which pays medical bills and a part of their income while they recover.

“One of the bedrock principles of worker’s compensation is universal coverage,” states the state’s Department of Workforce Development, which manages the workers’ compensation system, on its website. “That means that virtually every employee is covered.”

However, the legislation differs for farms, and many immigrant dairy workers — the backbone of one of the state’s most recognized yet deadly businesses — are not protected. Wisconsin exempts all types of farms with less than six employees who are not connected to the owners from having workers’ compensation coverage.

There seems to be no state or federal organization tracking how many of Wisconsin’s 5,700 or so dairy farms fit into that group – or how many workers lack coverage. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, one of the state’s most powerful lobbying organizations, doesn’t either.

However, the number of such farms is likely to be in the thousands, since many employ just one or two people. According to one national research, more than 23,000 agricultural workers in Wisconsin were exempt from workers’ compensation coverage in 2020, a higher number than in virtually every other state in the country.

The exemption from workers’ compensation comes on top of restrictions on the federal government’s enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations on these same small farms, essentially leaving businesses to police themselves.

Workers on small farms are not the only ones who are vulnerable. Many wounded agricultural laborers say they are too fearful of reprisal from their bosses to file claims. The situation is aggravated by immigration status: the majority of immigrants working on Wisconsin dairy farms are in the country illegally and are afraid of being dismissed or deported.

“Workers’ compensation doesn’t work for anyone, not even the workers who are supposed to benefit from it.” “It really doesn’t,” says Lola Loustaunau, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School for Workers who is researching immigrant workers’ access to workers’ compensation in high-risk sectors. “That gets increasingly worse the more precarious workers are.”

This week, ProPublica reported on how undocumented dairy workers are routinely injured on the job and frequently go without medical treatment. When their injuries are serious enough that they can no longer work, they may be sacked and evicted from the accommodation provided by many businesses. Many people have little legal choices.

“The farm owner didn’t want to help me with anything,” said a 47-year-old man who was unable to work for many months this year after a cow pushed him into a wall, ripping the muscles and tendons in his shoulder from the bones. “They don’t really see us as full humans.”

According to state documents, the guy worked on a farm with two other laborers that lacked workers’ compensation insurance. He said he spent months without medical treatment until the proprietor of a Latino grocery shop in the region connected him with a local nonprofit group that assisted him in receiving hospital charity care.

Farms with as little as one person are required to obtain workers’ compensation insurance in more than a dozen states, including New York, California, and Idaho. Wisconsin’s exception for small farms is one of numerous federal and state exemptions that have traditionally given farm workers — particularly dairy workers — less rights and protections than others. Farm workers are not entitled to overtime pay or the opportunity to establish a union. Housing on dairy farms is typically uncontrolled and uninspected. As ProPublica has revealed, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration rarely never investigates worker fatalities and injuries on small farms.

According to a spokesman for the Department of Workforce Development, state law does not allow its Worker’s Compensation Division to offer services or programs to an injured worker whose employer is not obliged to have workers’ compensation insurance. “Division staff refer injured workers who contact the division with immediate needs to community-based organizations and other service providers,” a representative for the division stated.

In its annual policy book, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau states that it favors preserving the six-employee level for needing workers’ compensation insurance. Amy Eckelberg, a Farm Bureau spokesman, said in a statement that farmers from throughout the state decide the organization’s policy goals.

“Our farmers use every means available to avoid injuries to their employees, family members and themselves through appropriate education, training and physical precautions to mitigate against known safety threats,” she went on to say.

Over the last year, ProPublica interviewed more than 60 foreign laborers who claimed to have been harmed on Wisconsin farms. Workers on small and big farms have regularly claimed that their bosses overlooked their injuries.

Consider the instance of Luis, a Nicaraguan man who works on a farm in south-central Wisconsin that has workers’ compensation coverage, according to state records. He said that a cow kicked his hand one morning in January. “In that moment, I thought my hand was broken,” he told me. “I didn’t know what to do about the pain.” Luis said that he informed his manager, who responded, “It’s OK. “Keep working,” he said, and he did.

Later that day, he went to a Latino grocery shop to get pain relievers and bandages to help with the swelling. He was aware that his company had workers’ compensation insurance, but he didn’t want to bring it up. “It’s better not to say anything,” he told me. Luis never received medical attention.

Many workers who sought medical attention reported their bosses pressed them to persuade hospital authorities that their ailment was not work-related. According to one former hospital staffer, immigrant dairy workers who came into the emergency department would beg him not to record in their files that they were injured on the job. He said that they did not want the hospital to contact their company to inquire about workers’ compensation coverage because they were scared their bosses would get angry and dismiss them.

Some farms that are supposed to have workers’ compensation insurance do not have it. According to one worker who had his face battered in by a bull last year, at least seven other individuals worked on the farm. However, according to state documents, the farm lacked workers’ compensation coverage.

In interviews, more than a half-dozen workers said that workers’ compensation paid some or all of their medical expenditures and gave them with partial income while they recovered. Their bodies, however, have changed.

“My right hand is fucked,” claimed an Ecuadorian guy whose hand became entangled in a piece of equipment in a milking parlor, resulting in the loss of two fingers and the inability to use two others. “I’m unable to close my hand; it simply remains open.” When I attempt to use it often, it aches. And the agony is excruciating in the cold.”

“I’m unable to run. I can’t walk for more than 30 minutes. “My leg falls asleep,” said a Nicaraguan guy whose legs were crushed two years ago by a huge metal fence. “The farm owner told me I’m lucky to be alive because even cows can be killed there.”

“I kept trying to work, but I couldn’t stand the pain,” claimed a Nicaraguan man who hurt his spinal column after falling on concrete after slipping off a skid steer he was cleaning. “They laughed at me, saying I was making up the pain, that I didn’t want to work.”

Workers injured on small farms without workers’ compensation insurance have just one legal option to force their employers to pay their medical bills: sue them. However, few immigrant dairy workers do.

“A lot of people are afraid that suing will jeopardize their immigration status,” said Douglas Phebus, a lawyer who has represented dairy farm workers in personal injury claims. “The whole system is set up to burden these people. Everything is stacked against them.”

Unlike workers’ compensation claims, where a worker must simply establish that an accident occurred while on the job, the burden of evidence in personal injury cases is higher: workers must demonstrate that their employers were negligent.

And, with workers frequently working 70 to 80 hours per week, it might be difficult to locate an attorney — particularly one who knows Spanish — as well as the time to meet.

According to Kate McCoy, the occupational health and safety program director for the state Department of Health Services, immigrant dairy workers are particularly vulnerable to disability and death.

“From the public health standpoint, you never want to see a population that’s afraid to access medical care and is afraid to speak to health officials, and that’s one of the things we see with this population,” she said.

McCoy’s group is collaborating with Loustaunau and other University of Wisconsin academics to better understand the occupational health requirements of workers in high-risk occupations, such as immigrant dairy laborers, and the obstacles they experience when seeking workers’ compensation.

This month, the group convened its first listening session. Every worker who showed there, including numerous dairy workers, said that they had been sacked after being injured. Several people mentioned how they began to perceive being harmed and then being ridiculed or humiliated by a boss as part of the work, according to Loustaunau. Many discussed despair and the impact injuries had on their families.

“We know that there are fantastic farmers and farm employers who go out of their way to take care of employees,” he added. “But unfortunately the stories we heard last Friday night were [about] the folks that were not upholding what we would want.”

Officials from the health department intend to utilize what they learn from the listening sessions to offer workers with important information on workplace safety and the workers’ compensation system. They also want to provide workshops to teach workers how to navigate the claims procedure.

A worker at the hearing session claimed he was ridiculed, attacked, and threatened with deportation some years ago after falling more than ten feet while attempting to repair a barn curtain on a dairy farm. The guy had a concussion, memory loss, and spine injury, and he had to relearn how to walk and communicate. He and his wife traveled through the snow for almost an hour to attend the seminar. In an interview with ProPublica, the guy, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, said he wanted to share his story because he doesn’t want other dairy workers, particularly new immigrants, to go through what he did.

“We are not animals,” said the guy, who requested to be named only by one of his surnames, Paredes, out of fear of punishment from his previous employer. “As human beings, we have rights.”

Paredes’ medical expenditures were paid by workers’ compensation for many months, and he earned half salary during the time he was meant to be healing.

When the farm owner arrived to the home he provided for Paredes, his wife, and four children, he stated he still hadn’t been cleared by a doctor to return to work. The farm owner, according to Paredes and his wife, insisted that he return to work.

“Sometimes you don’t have another choice,” he told me. “A lot of us don’t want to speak up.”

But Paredes was no longer up to the task. Although his doctor ultimately approved him to work two hours each day, the farm owner pressed on longer shifts. According to Paredes, the farm owner mocked him, calling him a “cripple man” and “dumb,” and telling him to “go back to your pueblo because you’re not good for anything.”
“Once You’re No Good to Them, They Get Rid of You”

Paredes eventually felt compelled to resign. To compensate for the lost income, his wife took up three jobs, including milking cows at another farm and cleaning a church. Paredes said that he has not been able to work on a regular basis since the accident. He is saddled with thousands of dollars in medical bills for continuous treatment that is no longer covered by workers’ compensation. When he can, he does odd tasks like mowing grass or painting homes. However, he claims that when he conducts manual work, he has acute pain in his spine. And he said that his brain no longer functions as it once did. When he walks or drives, he experiences motion sickness and feels dizzy.

“I’m feeling useless,” he said. “Like I’m good for nothing.”

On January 13th, 2024, Holstein Canada will unveil the 2023 Master Breeder winners live from Brantford, Ontario! Mark your calendars for this virtual event and tune in to watch the excitement on either the Holstein Canada Facebook page or YouTube channel at 8:00pm EST!

According to a Canadian start-up, the findings of their artificial intelligence-based categorization of dairy cows are within 2% of human results.

Ghader Manafiazar, one of three co-founders of iClassifier, claims that the company’s machine learning-based approach for classification scores of quantitative Holstein traits such as stature (height at rump) and pin width achieved an accuracy rate of 98% after analyzing approximately 30,000 images collected from Canadian dairy farms.

Why it matters: AI-based categorization has the potential to change the way animals are appraised.

Holstein Canada offers in-person categorization services to Canadian dairy farms. A Holstein Canada spokesperson said that the association will have more to say regarding this sort of technology later this year.

The correlation to human classifier ratings for qualitative features like udder texture and dairy capacity was approximately 80%, according to Manafiazar, but “we’re trying to come up with a system that can objectively assess at least some of these qualitative traits.” With near-perfect accuracy on all attributes, the company’s founders are optimistic about commercializing the technology.

Manafiazar, a Dalhousie University in Halifax teaching member who earned his PhD in dairy cow feed efficiency at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, founded the firm alongside Alberta Mechanical Engineering faculty member Reza Sabbagh and data scientist Amir Rahvar.

The firm was created in 2021 and plans to begin operations on four farms in Alberta in early 2024.

The software utilizes cow photographs “and processes them in the cloud using the company’s unique AI algorithm.” For each cow, up to 25 distinct features, including udder texture and depth, bone quality, height, and rump angle, may be measured and analyzed, and full reports with suggestions are delivered to farmers after careful study.”

The AI-based classification tool, which uses images provided by a camera on a mobile app or a customized stall outfitted with special cameras and imaging equipment, can be used at any time on any farm setting, whereas “the human-centred process may not be readily available, and can be costly and inconsistent,” according to the company.

Manafiazar says he got interested in how information technology may be used in the dairy industry while examining dairy farms in Alberta. “I’m blessed with some very smart engineering friends,” he added in a recent interview, smiling.

With the two of them as co-founders, “we had discussions about various topics and ways to bring technology to dairy, but we thought with this one, there is an opportunity.”

Manafiazar met Nelson Jespersen, who milks roughly 300 cows on robots outside Westlock, Alta., and often welcomes university students to his farm, via his previous job at the University of Alberta. Jespersen said he used to categorize his Holstein herd but stopped because it was cumbersome and not worth the effort and money.

As part of its study, the iClassifier team took cameras to Jespersen’s farm, and he believes a more streamlined, non-biased method to categorization may tempt him to repeat the practice.

Sabbagh, the CEO of the firm, has a background in optical imaging. In an interview, he said that the team studied hundreds of photos for categorization qualities and compared them to findings supplied by a human classifier.

“The end outcome was wonderful. “We reasoned that if we could automate this practice, we could help farmers perform these assessments more frequently while also providing an accurate and objective result that they could use to improve the longevity and productivity of their herds,” he adds.

According to Sabbagh, a poll of dairy farmers was conducted roughly two years ago, and “they showed great interest in having iClassifier’s innovative technology on their farms and are even ready to participate in the technology development.”

The business unveiled the iClassifier system in Dubai from October 15 to 18, at Gitex Northstar, a huge digital start-up trade event. It is also looking forward, with aspirations of expanding system capabilities to include horses, swine, and camels.

A research team lead by a mechanical engineering master’s student at the University of Alberta is developing a customized lameness prediction algorithm for the iClassifier app. The team is collaborating with the university’s Optical Diagnostics Group to analyze data from the 150-cow Dairy Research and Technology Centre herd on the university’s south campus, thanks to funding from Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization funded by provincial and territorial governments across Canada.

Early diagnosis of lameness allows cows with foot issues to be treated before they become clinical, as is typically the case currently.

According to Manafiazar, iClassifier has the capacity to quantify certain qualitative features and hence eliminate human bias. Udder texture, for example, might be defined by capturing independent photos of thousands of udders before and after milking and using machine learning to determine an ideal.

Other prospective uses, he thinks, include body condition score and mastitis detection.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act was passed by the House with 330 members voting in favor and 99 voting against. Despite being billed as a law aimed at enhancing student choice, it lacks one crucial component: a non-dairy option, which is critical for BIPOC and other student demographics with high rates of lactose sensitivity. Just two days before, the House Rules Committee declined consideration of an amendment to close this gap.
Dietary Guidelines are in Conflict with School Milk Options

Historically, milk options in public schools have been established by the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The USDA and the Department of Human and Health Services update dietary recommendations every five years, with the next version coming in 2025. Each edition’s committee bases its recommendations on a rigorous evaluation of nutrition research.

Current recommendations propose that children aged 2 to 18 consume fat-free or low-fat milk, which are the types now accessible in schools. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, if passed, would introduce low fat and whole milk to school lunch menus.

Other features of the Act preclude the greater fat content of the milk from counting against USDA criteria that require no more than 10% of calories to come from saturated fat. “The bill adds more unhealthy fat onto school lunch trays,” said Andrew Binovi of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, calling the bill a “huge misstep by Congress.”

Because “they are similar to milk and yogurt in terms of nutrient composition,” federal dietary recommendations recommend soy milk fortified with calcium and other vitamins as a healthy option to fat-free and low-fat milk.Nonetheless, soy milk is not widely available in school cafeterias, and, unlike dairy milk, there is no government program to compensate schools for its purchase.
Caucuses Back ADD SOY Amendment Rejected by House

On Monday, the Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander caucuses submitted a bipartisan amendment that would have enabled kids to request a nondairy milk option, but the House declined to even consider the bill.

Because up to 80% of BIPOC pupils are unable to digest dairy, compared to just 5% of Northern and Central Europeans, the absence of a non-dairy milk alternative promotes racial disparities.

Prior to the amendment, Representative Troy Carter (D-LA) and a bipartisan group of 30 other members of Congress proposed H.R.1619, which required schools to provide nondairy milk alternatives. The legislation, like the amendment, would make soy milk available in cafeterias while enabling the USDA to compensate schools for it in the same way that cow’s milk is reimbursed. Despite the fact that about half of pupils are likely lactose intolerant, the measure — and its Senate cousin — has stalled.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is still in its early stages. Now that the measure has been passed by the House, it will be submitted to the Senate for committee review and then a vote by the entire Senate.

Advocates for nondairy milk in schools aren’t given up yet, pointing to the work they’re doing to influence the Senate’s consideration of the measure. “If I learned anything on my way to the Olympic podium, it’s that you will lose far more times than you will win,” says Olympic medalist and Switch4Good supporter Dotsie Bausch. “This is far from over.”

The T.C. Jacoby Weekly Market Report Week Ending December 15, 2023

January Class III futures dipped below the $16 mark, a level signaling plenty of red ink on the farm as well. Unfortunately, Class III prices will have a greater influence on most milk checks. Ever-expanding cheese production capacity, lower milk powder output, and depooling will water down the share of dairy producer revenue derived from the higher Class IV market.

Ink ran red on LaSalle Street this week. January Class III futures dipped below the $16 mark, a level signaling plenty of red ink on the farm as well. When the closing bell rang, first quarter Class III contracts were roughly a half-dollar lower than where they began the week, with January at $15.90 per cwt., February at $16.14, and March at $16.78. But after a bleak midwinter the futures promise better revenue, with April and May in the high $17s and late 2024 futures at $18 or better. Class IV futures also took a big step back, but they are holding in the $18s and $19s, prices that comport with much better profitability than the comparable Class III contracts.

Unfortunately, Class III prices will have a greater influence on most milk checks. Ever-expanding cheese production capacity, lower milk powder output, and depooling will water down the share of dairy producer revenue derived from the higher Class IV market. Feed costs are coming down, but milk revenues are falling even faster. Financial strain on the farm will likely reduce U.S. milk production prospects into the new year.

European milk output is similarly constrained. USDA’s Dairy Market News reports “tight milk supplies and healthy cheese demand,” which is boosting European dairy product prices. German Edam values stand at their highest level since January

In China, milk output is expected to stall after five years of robust growth. USDA’s analysts in Beijing predict that Chinese milk output will total 41 million metric tons (~90.4 billion pounds) in both 2023 and 2024, 33% higher than it was in 2018. Global dairy exporters will cheer the shift toward stagnation, but China will still have enough milk to keep milk powder imports in check in 2024.

While Chinese stocks remain ample, milk powder inventories are shrinking in the U.S. and Europe. That’s helping to put a firm floor under global prices. Whole milk powder perked up at this week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Pulse auction. Skim milk powder took a small step back compared to last week’s broader GDT auction, but it remains 3% higher than its last showing at the Pulse auction two weeks ago. In Chicago, milk powder prices remain relatively stable. CME spot nonfat dry milk slipped a half-cent to $1.165 per pound.

Grocers, restaurants, and commercial bakers clearly have all the butter they need to get through the holidays, and they’re now looking ahead to lighter demand in January, when consumers commit to flatter stomachs and tighter budgets. CME spot butter plummeted 18ȼ this week to $2.49.

The cheese markets also took a big step back. Spot Cheddar blocks dropped 6ȼ to $1.52, tied for the lowest price since July. Barrels finished a dime lower than last Friday at $1.45. The last time that cheese was this cheap, in midNovember, the invisible hand worked quickly. Low prices attracted new buyers and prices rebounded. Today, soft U.S. cheese prices, a weaker dollar, and rising cheese values in Europe should help to boost exports and, eventually, prices.

The whey market was characteristically stolid. It closed right where it began at 39.5ȼ. Domestic demand for high protein whey products remains robust, which is helping to keep whey away from the dryer. Dairy Market News reports that dry whey stocks “remain tight,” a stark turnaround from burdensome inventories this summer. But exports remain soft, and they will likely remain in the doldrums until China’s pork industry sees better profits.

The corn market moved back and forth in its well-trod trading range. March corn futures settled at $4.83 per bushel, down 2.5ȼ from last Friday. The soybean market offered a little more excitement as the trade tried to determine the impact of dramatic changes to Argentine fiscal and agricultural policy.

Argentina’s new libertarian president lost no time implementing the big changes he’d promised on the campaign trail. President Javier Milie was inaugurated Sunday, and by Tuesday his economic minister had cut the exchange rate roughly in half. The new exchange rate – at about 800 pesos per dollar – brings the peso closer to the blue market rate, which previously reflected the peso’s real outside of government controls. The weaker official currency makes Argentina’s commodities much cheaper for foreign buyers, who have always paid the official rate, and it is likely to push soybean and soybean meal importers back to Buenos Aires. However, after last year’s severe drought, Argentina doesn’t have a lot

of crops left to ship in the near term. The Milei government also raised the export tax on corn and wheat to 15%, modestly offsetting the currency effect. While the new regime in Argentina is likely bearish of crop prices in the long run, for now, the impact is limited.

Perhaps more importantly, heavy rains are falling in Argentina, bringing relief to parched soils and reviving yield prospects. But it’s hot and dry in central Brazil, and so the weather gave a little boost to soybean prices this week. The January contract closed at $13.1575, up 11.75ȼ. January soybean meal rallied 90ȼ to $405.60 per ton.

Original Report At: https://www.jacoby.com/market-report/ink-runs-red-on-lasalle-street-this-week/

DeLaval, a global leader in dairy farming solutions, has opened its new technical training centre in Peterborough, Ontario. The recently renovated 3,600 square foot facility will help train DeLaval dealer technicians and staff from across the country on the company’s latest milking systems and software.

“We have invested more than half a million CAD in this new training facility – our 14^th training centre worldwide, and third in North America,” said Mark Futcher, director of DeLaval Canada.

The Canada facility features a technical lab, housing two DeLaval VMS™ milking robots, as well as a classroom, conference room and shared workspaces. Rotary, parlour and stanchion displays will be added soon.

The technical training centre will help DeLaval provide a superior level of service, knowledge and advice to Canada’s thriving dairy industry. Dealer partners and staff will be able to participate in practical, hands-on technical training and dairy advisory services to help operations see success with DeLaval milking systems.

“The advancement of technology and automation across Canada’s dairy industry underlines the need for high-quality trainings and support to ensure smooth functionality and adoption on the farm,” said Don Gordon, Dairy Farmers of Ontario board member. “DeLaval’s new training centre in Peterborough showcases the company’s commitment to end-user success with advanced dairy technology.”

For more than a century, DeLaval had a significant presence in Peterborough. In 1912, DeLaval opened a manufacturing location in the city, which later became its Canadian head office. The company is proud to reinvest in the city with a training centre.

“DeLaval is a name synonymous with dairy innovation, and we are thrilled to welcome this company back to the Peterborough community through an incredible new training facility,” said Jeff Leal, mayor of Peterborough. “As a former Minister of Agriculture in the Province of Ontario, I know firsthand the significant impact DeLaval has had on the agricultural sector, both in Ontario and in Canada. I want to thank DeLaval for investing in our community.”

DeLaval expects to host a couple of training sessions a month beginning in 2024, which equates to about 200 visitors annually supporting Peterborough’s hospitality industry. For more information about DeLaval or to find your nearest dealer, visit delaval.com.

Photo caption: DeLaval leaders and special guests participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of DeLaval’s technical training centre in Canada. (Pictured L-R: Jeff Leal, Mayor of Peterborough; Fernando Cuccioli, Executive Vice President, Americas; Mark Futcher, Director, DeLaval Canada; Don Gordon, Dairy Farmers of Ontario.)

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About DeLaval 
Our vision is to make sustainable food production possible. As a company built on innovation, we constantly work to find ways of helping our customers, dairy farmers, do more with less by providing world-leading milking equipment and solutions. 
 
Today, DeLaval has approximately 4,500 passionate professionals operating in more than 100 markets around the world. DeLaval is part of the Tetra Laval Group. See more at https://corporate.delaval.com