Charlie Garrison

The 62nd annual meeting of National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ), will be held virtually at 2:00 p.m (EDT) on Friday, June 26, 2020. Members will elect a Director from District #5, receive reports of the officers and General Manager and consider any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

The latest on national dairy policy, the USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, prospects for additional federal assistance legislation, trade policy and agreements and the agriculture workforce modernization legislation will be discussed by Charlie Garrison, founder and president of The Garrison Group LLC, during the NAJ annual meeting.

Founded in 1997, The Garrison Group is a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs firm specializing in food, agriculture and energy policy and communications. Garrison provides regular briefings on legislative affairs to the NAJ Board of Directors and coordinated the three Congressional fly-ins organized for NAJ and AJCA members since 2014.

Garrison was raised on a central Indiana dairy and row crop farm and earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Purdue University. After 10 years as a partner in the family farm, he accepted a staff position in Chicago with the Beef Industry Council, the checkoff¬ funded promotion and research arm of the beef industry that is now part of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. While in Chicago he studied at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. In 1992, Garrison moved to Washington, D.C. to create the position of Director of Industry Relations for the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. He remained in that role during and after the merger of the National Dairy Board staff and programs into Dairy Management Inc. (DMI).

To view the complete agenda of the virtual meeting, click here.

For a list of sponsors and information to join the meeting, click here.

National All-Jersey Inc. (NAJ) was formed December 9, 1957 by the American Jersey Cattle Association, the oldest dairy breed registry organization in the United States. NAJ’s mission is two-fold: to increase the value of and demand for Jersey milk and to promote equity in milk pricing. It is the only organization that represents milk marketing concerns for owners of a single dairy breed. It functions cooperatively with the AJCA by sharing several Directors, Officers, and staff personnel, and occupies joint headquarters offices in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

The Holstein Association USA has provided the below following statement on their re-launch. 

Dear Holstein Association Friends:

As you know, since March 25th, the Holstein Association USA office has been officially closed under Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s emergency order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, a subset of the Holstein Team continued to work to carry on as many Association services as we effectively could.

Let me assure you, all who remained working exceeded my most optimistic expectations. Many thanks to my colleagues.

At this juncture, I’m happy to report the majority of our personnel is now working either in the office or remotely. Our classification and regional sales representatives teams are working as well.

Our employee Health and Safety Committee is doing an excellent job instituting the guidelines and recommendations coming from the Vermont Department of Health and the CDC. A number of new protocols have been implemented at 1 Holstein Place in order to try to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of those who work here.

We’ve made some internal operational modifications that we hope will enable us to be of greater service to you than ever before. We’re currently running as close to full throttle as possible, even though some state restrictions still remain. We’re open and here to assist you!

Many thanks to all of you for your patience during this cumbersome time.

Please take care of yourselves and do everything you can to stay well,
John
John M. Meyer
Chief Executive Officer

Dairy farmers are eligible for direct support through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides direct financial assistance to agricultural producers, providing them the ability to weather the economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19.

USDA is accepting CFAP applications through August 28. Call and set up an appointment with your local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to determine your eligibility and to apply for assistance.

Am I eligible for assistance under CFAP?

CFAP payments are eligible to all dairy operations with milk production in January, February, and/or March 2020, including any dumped milk production during that period. All farmers who produced milk between January and March 2020, including those who went out of business or otherwise stopped producing milk during this period or after, are eligible. Production enrolled in risk management programs, including Livestock Gross Margin, Dairy Revenue Protection, Dairy Margin Coverage or forward contracts, also qualifies for CFAP payments.

What is the payment level for milk production?

For dairy, a single payment will be made derived from two funding formulas intended to calculate losses caused by the coronavirus. The first and larger component is calculated from a producer’s certification of milk production for the first quarter of calendar year 2020 multiplied by $4.71 per hundredweight. The second component of the payment is based on a 1.014% increase in that first quarter production, multiplied by $1.47 per hundredweight. Overall, the payment amounts to $6.20/cwt. for a farm’s production in January through March of this year.

What other CFAP categories am I eligible for?

Besides milk production, dairy farmers may be eligible for payments under the following categories. Click here for the full list of eligible commodities.

Livestock: Cull cows, Steers, Bull calves, Mature bulls, Cull heifers

Non-Specialty Crops: Corn (including high moisture corn), Sorghum, Soybeans

How does the livestock payment affect my dairy operation?

Livestock that are no longer used for dairy production and have entered the beef cattle market, if all other eligibility requirements are met, may be eligible for CFAP and would be categorized accordingly. USDA has provided guidance to assist dairy producers in determining eligibility. The payment rates listed below are all per head.

A single payment for livestock will be calculated using the sum of the producer’s number of livestock sold between Jan. 15 and April 15, 2020, multiplied by the payment rates per head, and the highest inventory number of livestock between April 16 and May 14, 2020, multiplied by the payment rate per head. For more information, visit USDA’s CFAP webpage for livestock.

How do payment limits work under CFAP?

CFAP payments are subject to a per-person and legal entity payment limitation of $250,000. This limitation applies to the total amount of CFAP payments made with respect to all eligible commodities. Unlike other FSA programs, special payment limitation rules are applied to participants that are corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships (corporate entities). These corporate entities may receive up to $750,000 based upon the number of shareholders (not to exceed three shareholders) who are contributing at least 400 hours of active personal management or personal active labor.

For a corporate entity:

• With one such shareholder, the payment limit for the entity is $250,000;
• With two such shareholders, the payment limit for the entity is $500,000 if at least two members contribute at least 400 hours of active personal labor or active personal management, or combination thereof, with respect to the operation of the corporate entity; and
• With three such shareholders, the limit is $750,000 if at least three members contribute at least 400 hours of active personal labor or active personal management, or combination thereof, with respect to the operation of the corporate entity.

Does money I’ve received this year through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and/or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program count against the payment limits in the CFAP program?

No. Small Business Administration’s loan programs, including the PPP and EIDL program, are separate from USDA’s coronavirus payments. Farmers can apply for financial assistance through both agencies, and assistance received from one agency should not affect assistance received from the other.

Are there special provisions for seasonal producers or organic producers?

There are no special provisions for seasonal dairy producers or organic dairy producers under the current program.

How do I apply?

A CFAP Payment Calculator is available to assist with applications. This Excel workbook allows you to enter information specific to your operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form. Producers interested in filling out the application manually can also download the application form, AD-3114.

Producers self-certify when they apply for CFAP, and documentation is not submitted with the application. But you may be asked for additional documentation to support your certification of eligible commodities, so you should retain the documentation used to complete your application.

FSA staff at local USDA Service Centers will work with farmers to file applications. Applications may be submitted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or via electronic means. Please call your office prior to sending applications electronically. Visit www.farmers.gov/cfap for more information. Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020.

When should I expect to receive my payment?

To ensure the availability of funding throughout the application period, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment, up to the payment limit, upon approval of the application. The remaining portion will be paid at a later date as funds remain available.

Should I expect any additional aid in the coming months?

Congress is considering additional legislation to respond to the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The House-passed HEROES Act includes a number of beneficial provisions for dairy farmers, including additional direct payments, and we anticipate that the Senate will begin work on a bill in the coming weeks. NMPF will keep dairy farmers updated about any subsequent aid made available.

Dairy farmers and their allies are encouraged to spend a few minutes customizing our call-to-action letter urging Congress to prioritize dairy assistance in its next coronavirus assistance package.

Visit www.farmers.gov/cfap for additional information about CFAP and www.nmpf.org/coronavirus for a full listing of coronavirus resources for dairy farmers and co-ops. Please email info@nmpf.org with questions or comments about CFAP and how it is being administered in your local office.

Lactanet Canada and Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) today announced that DairyTrace, the much-anticipated national dairy cattle traceability program will become a reality in the fall of 2020, providing a single, common framework for dairy farmers to track animal identity and movements. The announcement follows a separate, related communication from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) last week, recognizing Lactanet Canada as the national administrator responsible for dairy bovine animals under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations.

“Providing protection and peace of mind to consumers is vital, and when it is fully implemented, DairyTrace will provide a high-quality, national dairy cattle traceability system that takes our industry’s efforts to the next level,” says Gert Schrijver, dairy producer and Chairman of Lactanet’s DairyTrace Advisory Committee.  “The launch of DairyTrace will be a pivotal milestone for dairy producers, as it will provide the data management infrastructure needed to provide – for the first time – a true, pan-Canadian picture of the movements of dairy cattle.”

DairyTrace takes advantage of existing structures, systems and solutions within the Canadian dairy cattle sector, which has the significant benefits of efficiency, cost effectiveness and timely implementation towards the targeted timeline as defined with proAction®.

Under federal regulations and/or proAction® requirements, everyone who owns or has the possession, care or control of dairy cattle must report animal identity, movement, location, and custodianship information. Lactanet and DFC have been working collaboratively since 2016 towards the common vision of a national dairy cattle traceability program. By harmonizing data under a common, national framework, DairyTrace will promote information sharing and potentially add value to research and genetics initiatives, all while aligning with the traceability module of DFC’s proAction® program.

DairyTrace will be managed by Lactanet’s Board of Directors, with input and collaboration from DFC. DairyTrace takes advantage of existing structures, systems and solutions within the Canadian dairy cattle sector, including partnerships with Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) and Holstein Canada, which provides benefits in terms of efficiency, cost effectiveness and timely implementation:

• ATQ has expertly led the livestock traceability program in Québec for over 18 years. ATQ will be hosting, supporting, and transferring data to the DairyTrace system and will continue to provide its well-established services to Québec producers via SimpliTRACE.
• Outside Québec, dairy producers will continue to purchase dairy bovine tags via the National Livestock Identification for Dairy (NLID) program, which will now be dovetailed alongside DairyTrace customer services. Both will be offered from Holstein Canada.

Lactanet and DFC acknowledge and express appreciation to CFIA, as well as for the financial support provided by Agriculture and Agri‐Food Canada through its Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) program.

About Lactanet Canada   www.lactanet.ca

Lactanet is the leading dairy herd improvement organization responsible for milk recording, genetic evaluations and knowledge transfer. As a farmer-run organization serving nearly 10,000 Canadian dairy producers, Lactanet provides the dairy industry with products and services to help manage their dairy operation for maximum efficiency and profitability.

About Dairy Farmers of Canada   www.dairyfarmersofcanada.ca

Dairy Farmers of Canada is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and promote dairy products and their health benefits.

Due to our ongoing concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the excitement of The Royal will have to wait for another year. The Royal’s Board of Directors today made the heart-wrenching but unanimous decision to cancel the 2020 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, originally scheduled for November 6th to 15th at Exhibition Place, Toronto. This treasured annual tradition will return better than ever in 2021.

“Over the past several months, we’ve all experienced an unprecedented disruption to our daily lives and are redefining how we live, work and play. Ultimately, our decision is grounded in our commitment to help ensure the health and well-being of our community at large,” stated Charlie Johnstone, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal. “Our primary responsibility remains rooted in serving our community and protecting the integrity and welfare of all. We understand and appreciate the time, effort and financial commitment required to compete and exhibit at The Royal and did not make this decision without very careful consideration.”

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition in the world. Each fall, The Royal brings together hundreds of competitors, thousands of animals and hundreds of thousands of guests to celebrate the best in agriculture, local food, and equestrian competition. During its storied history, The Royal has been cancelled on only one other occasion, during World War II. At that time, the stalls within the historic Royal Horse Palace were transformed into Army Barracks to house soldiers preparing to be deployed to join our Canadian and Allied troops fighting in Europe. Today, The Royal once again stands in support of its community, first and foremost.

“During these uncertain times, we’re heartened by the resilience of farmers, the ingenuity of entrepreneurs, and the abundance of care shown towards family, friends and animals,” concluded Johnstone. “As we lead up to our 100th Anniversary celebrations in 2022, we take comfort knowing that the 2021 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will be, as always, an outstanding experience for all those who compete, exhibit and attend.”

In additional to The Royal’s Agricultural Food Competitions, which will still take place in 2020, virtual programming designed to engage, educate and motivate is currently being explored for this Fall. More details regarding this exciting initiative will be released soon. In the meantime, all Canadians are encouraged to continue supporting Canadian farmers, producers and local retailers. 

Together we will get through this, and “Bring the Country to the City” next November 5th to 14th, 2021.

A Chippewa County woman has been crowned as Wisconsin’s 73rd Alice in Dairyland. Julia Nunes, 23, from Tilden was selected for the title Saturday night during a Facebook Live event from Walworth County.

“I will strive to be the role model that Alice in Dairyland was for me growing up,” Nunes said after being chosen. “As Alice, I will explore Wisconsin’s agriculture and share my discoveries and knowledge gained with consumers and producers throughout the state.”

Nunes grew up on her family’s registered Holstein dairy farm, where she was involved in the Junior Holstein Association and 4-H. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where she earned a bachelor’s degrees in Agricultural Communication & Marketing, and Animal Science, with minors in Agricultural & Food Business Management, and Horticulture. For the past year, Julia has been employed at Kinni Hemp Company in River Falls.

Other finalists in the running during the competition were Rachel Gerbitz, Milton; Erica Helmer, Plymouth; Stephanie Hoff, Thorp; Kaitlin Konder, Glenwood City; and Grace Schroeder, Cashton.

Serving as judges this year were Beth Schaefer, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin; Jackie Fett, Ginseng Board of Wisconsin; and Mark Rhoda-Reis, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. Walworth County Fair Board President Bill Thompson served as the master of ceremonies.

Meanwhile, this year’s Alice, Abigail Martin, said the COVID-19 pandemic may have changed the way she did her job during the latter part of her year, but it didn’t change her objective.

“March 18th… when this date arrived, I arrived in a new territory–the Alice working from home territory,” Martin said in her retiring address. “I had to transition from life on the road to life at the kitchen table, but the importance of telling agriculture’s story was greater than ever.”

And before giving up her title, Abigail presented the 2020 Friend of Alice Award to Nodji Van Wychen of Wetherby Cranberry Company in Warrens.

Julia officially begins her duties as Alice on July 6. Until then, Martin will continue to handle the program’s responsibilities as her successor goes through a brief training process.

Alice in Dairyland is a full-time public relations professional employed by the state’s division of agricultural development. Each year, she travels more than 40,000 miles throughout the state, promoting Wisconsin products to audiences of all ages and types.

Next year, the Alice in Dairyland finals returns to Walworth County for traditional in-person activities in May 2021. Dane County will hold the 75th annual competition in the Madison area a year later. And Dunn County is already in line as the 2023 host.

Source: wisconsinagconnection.com

The 2020 Keystone International Livestock Exposition  (KILE) has been canceled to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. KILE was originally scheduled to run September 25 – October 4, 2020 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.

“Although this news comes with a great disappointment, this is the right thing to do for the health and safety of our agriculture community,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “We care about the exhibitors that work hard year-round while looking forward to the show. Nothing can come in comparison to the health and wellbeing of our youth and the public at large.”

The KILE Executive Board understands the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all exhibitors, spectators and volunteers, while also adhering to the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

“For the past 64 years, KILE has become one of the premier shows on the East Coast. We take pride in the experience that we offer to exhibitors,” said Pennsylvania Farm Show Competitive Events Manager Harrison Frantz. “The decision to cancel KILE this year was not taken lightly, and our hearts are heavy.”

The KILE Executive Board is looking to the future and planning for next year’s Keystone International Livestock Exposition set to be held on October 1 – October 10, 2021.

For questions or concerns please contact the KILE Office at kile@pa.gov. More information on KILE can be found at keystoneinternational.pa.gov/Show.

–Shannon Powers, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

The Erie County Agricultural Society is proud to announce the newly established North American Open Dairy Cattle Show this October on the Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY. The event will begin on October 13th and run through October 18th , with scheduled show dates running from October 16-18. It will be open to exhibitors from both the United States and Canada.

Jessica Underberg, the CEO of the Erie County Agricultural Society said, “shows such as this are very important to the dairy industry.” According to Ms. Underberg, “Cattle show rings across the country have gone dark over the last few months as a result of COVID-19. With a deep-rooted commitment to agriculture and recognizing the fact that dairy is New York’s #1 agriculture commodity, we are optimistically planning the North American Open Dairy Cattle Show.” She added, “this show directly aligns with our Mission Statement and is a natural fit for the staff that come from backgrounds in the dairy and livestock industries.”

Alicia Lamb of Oakfield Corners Dairy stated, “The cancellation of multiple national level shows in 2020 has eroded the market value of our elite show type cattle, and the ability to exhibit at the North American Open Dairy Cattle Show will help to increase that value as we move into 2021 and beyond.” She also said, “creating an outlet for marketing and exhibiting provides cattle exhibitors a ray of optimism in a year that has been riddled with so much negativity. As breeders and exhibitors, we enjoy showing and competing against the highest quality cattle in the world, and this show opens that door.”

The necessary health guidelines outlined at the time of the event by New York State, Erie County and the Center for Disease Control will be followed.

Breed shows offered will be Red & Whites, Milking Shorthorns, Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Ayrshire, Jersey and Holstein. Entries will be accepted beginning August 1, 2020. For more information visit www.the-fairgrounds.com/NorthAmericanOpenDairyCattleShow or follow North American Open Dairy Cattle Show on Facebook. Call 716-649-3900 for more information.

Holstein Association USA is pleased to announce the 12 semifinalists for the 2020 Distinguished Junior Member (DJM) award. Established in 1922, the Distinguished Junior Member recognition is the longest running Holstein youth program. This award is the highest honor given to members of the National Junior Holstein Association, ages 17 to 21, in recognition of a commitment to the Holstein breed and involvement in a variety of agriculture related activities.

The 2020 DJM semifinalists are: Todd Allen, Jefferson, Md.; Matthew Boop, Millmont, Pa.; Kristen Burkhardt, Fowlerville, Mich.; Connor Erbsen, Lanark, Ill.; Morgan Hungerford, East Meredith, N.Y.; Mason Jauquet, Pulaski, Wis.; Yvonne Longenecker, Williamsburg, Pa.; Rachel McCullough, Juda, Wis.; Emily Mikel, Stafford, N.Y.; Hannah Nelson, Ellsworth, Wis.; Bailie Shultz, Seattle, Wash.; and Colin Uecker, Watertown, Wis.

Applicants complete two judging phases. Phase one is the Junior’s entry book, worth 60 percent of the final score. The book highlights the Junior’s Holstein work, activities and projects, breeding program and personal views. Phase two consists of the twelve semifinalists being interviewed by a committee of judges and accounts for 40 percent of the final score. The six individuals with the highest combined score are recognized as Distinguished Junior Members and receive annually renewed membership to Holstein Association USA.

This year, the 2020 DJM Finalists will be announced during a Facebook Live Event on the Holstein Association USA Facebook page, Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 12 noon Eastern time.

The National Junior Holstein Association is a dynamic organization for youth under the age of 21, with over 8,000 active members in 48 states. For more information about the DJM contest or other Holstein youth programs, visit www.holsteinusa.com/juniors, or contact Kelli Dunklee at 800.952.5200, ext. 4124 or by email.

Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd says it will pay farmers extra for sustainable dairy in a bid to incentivise production.

According to Reuters, Fonterra, the world’s largest dairy exporter, made the announcement on 23 June.

Sustainable dairy products have limited harmful impact on the environment and animals. Sustainable products have gained traction among consumers as people become more conscious about how food is sourced.

Fonterra said it would pay up to 10 cents per kilogram of milk solids (kgMS) from the June 2021 dairy season to farms that meet its sustainability and value targets.

“We’ve always paid our farmers based on the value that milk provides to the co-operative,” Chief Executive Miles Hurrell said in a statement.

“The reality is that the drivers of value are changing, and we need to reflect that. Our customers want to know that the products they are buying are not only safe, but also produced sustainably.”

According to the World Wildlife Fund, greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cows and their manure, water pollution and unregulated farming and feed production are some of the risks associated with unsustainable dairy farming.

Global consumer conglomerates including Nestle and Unilever already follow frameworks to source sustainably produced goods including dairy, vegetables and oils.

Fonterra said the payment would be funded from the total Farmgate Milk Price, or the price the company pays farmers for milk for the upcoming season.

The precise payment structure would be confirmed in the coming months.

Read more about this story here.

The a2 Milk Company (A2MC) has fuelled speculation that it is in the running to buy the $NZ400m (A$375m) Mataura Valley Milk company in New Zealand, with the release of a statement on Monday saying it is in “discussions with a number of parties”.

While the dairy giant said it’s policy is to not respond to media speculation, the company confirmed that “it has had, and continues to have, various discussions with a number of parties in relation to potential strategic options relating to participation in manufacturing capacity and capability.”

The Australian reported on Sunday that the dairy giant is believed to be one of a handful of parties in contention for Mataura Valley Milk, which is based on New Zealand’s South Island.

The company is majority owned by China Animal Husbandry Group and New Zealand-based Bodco Dairy.

Chief executive of a2 Milk Geoffrey Babidge had signalled at the half year results in February that the company was looking to invest in manufacturing partnerships.

The dairy giant said on Monday that it is in compliance with the Listing Rules and “will continue to keep the market informed in accordance with its disclosure obligations”, if and when discussions reach a conclusion.

Source: insidefmcg.com.au

The 2020 Pennsylvania Holstein Association Championship Show program will soon begin. There are changes to the schedule and updates concerning shows because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional Show, and how they currently meet the PA Holstein Association guidelines for the 2020 Show season are listed below. There are currently three (3) shows that meet the qualifications and are scheduled. PA Holstein can add additional shows if those show locations meet the guidelines.

Guidelines to participate in the 2020 PA Holstein Regional Championship Show program include these additional rules:

• the host location for the show is in the state color code of Green at the time of the show
• show exhibitors, participants, show string workers, spectators and guests must follow the current CDC and PA Health regulations for COVID-19 guidance.

You can find show entry information listed below. All Pennsylvania Holstein Association or Junior Holstein Association members can participate in a Regional Championship Show, fill out the entry information and return it to the appropriate show that you wish to participate.

The Western and Northeast Championship Shows also will be hosting Regional Red & White shows, check their show rules and bring your red & whites to participate as well.

Please note the entry deadline and entry fee and forward the proper information to the appropriate person for the show you wish to attend before their deadline date.

Entry forms, rules and show schedules can also be found on the website or by calling the PA Holstein office at 814-234-0364.

The Regional Show Program is an important part of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association Show Program, all members are invited to join us to show at the show of your choice.

SHOW SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020
Western PA Championship Show (Please note the Location Change!)
Date: July 18, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM
Place: Crawford County Fairgrounds, Meadville, PA
Entry Fee: $10.00
Entry Deadline: July 1, 2020
Late Entry Fee: $20.00
Judge: Justin Burdette
Chairman: Tom Uber (814) 777-3777
Check In Deadline: July 17, 2020 3:00p.m.
Send Entries To: Tom Uber
3321 Rocky Glen Road
Adamsville PA 16110

SHOW SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020
Northeast PA Championship Show
Date: August 4, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM
Place: Alparon Fairgrounds, Troy,PA
Entry Fee: $10.00
Late Entry Fee: $20.00
Entry Deadline: July 13, 2020
Judge: Jack Lomeo, Jr.
Chairperson: Pam Morse (570) 297-1023
Check In Deadline: August 3, 2020 4:00p.m.
Send Entries To: Elizabeth Cashell
3029 Covered Bridge Road
Towanda, PA 18848

SHOW SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020
South-Central PA Championship Show
Date: August 6, 2020
Time: 9:30a.m
Place: South Mountain Fairgrounds, Arendtsville, PA
Entry Fee: $10.00
Entry Deadline: July 25, 2020
Late Entry Fee: $20.00
Judge: Michael Heath
Chairman: Joy Widerman 717-752-5871
Check In Deadline: August 5, 2020 4:00p.m.
Send Entries To: Lisa Cornman
828 Baltimore Pike
Gardners PA 17324

SHOW ON HOLD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020 – CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
Northern Tier PA Championship Show
Date: July 30, 2020
Time: 9:30 AM
Place: Harford Fairgrounds, New Milford,PA
Entry Fee: $10.00
Late Entry Fee: $15.00
Entry Deadline: July 15, 2020
Judge: Jason Lloyd
Chairman: Lloyd Pease (570) 955-8170
Check In Deadline: July 29, 2020 4:00 PM
Send Entries To: Dana Empet
269 Deer Trail Road
Kingsley PA 18826

SHOW ON HOLD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020 – CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
Central PA Championship Show
Date: August 15, 2020
Time: 6:00 PM
Place: Huntingdon Fairgrounds, Huntingdon, PA
Entry Fee: $7.00
Late Entry Fee: $15.00
Entry Deadline: August 1, 2020
Judge: Michael Creek
Chairman: John Foster, Jr. (814) 667-3567
Check In Deadline: August 14, 2020 6:00 PM
Send Entries To: Kim Grove
6794 Groves Road
Petersburg, PA 16669

SHOW ON HOLD AS OF JUNE 15, 2020 – CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES
Southeast PA Championship Show
Date: August 18, 2020
Time: 9:30 AM
Place: Lebanon Fairgrounds and Expo Center, Lebanon, PA
Entry Fee: $12.00
Late Entry Fee: $20.00
Entry Deadline: August 4, 2020
Judge: Justin Kaufman
Chairman: Bradley Hoover 717-507-7976
Check In Deadline: August 17, 2020 5:00 PM
Send Entries To: Bryant Hlavaty
141 Reifsnyder Road
Lititz PA 17543

Holstein Association USA’s mission is to provide leadership, information, and services to help members and dairy producers worldwide be successful. To further that mission, Holstein Association USA invites research proposals with expected outcomes to benefit the profitability from Holstein cattle. Research may involve traditional production disciplines of genetics, nutrition, or reproduction as well as dairy foods or economics. Principal investigators at United States universities or non-profit organizations are eligible to apply for grant funds. The deadline to submit proposals is August 15, 2020.

Supporting research is a top priority for Holstein Association USA, the world’s largest dairy breed association. Dr. Roger Shanks, dairy genetics consultant, explains. “I’m excited about the research program that Holstein Association USA has ongoing,” Shanks says. “We are getting into our fourth request for proposals this year. The overall objective of the whole program is really to try to increase the amount of research that’s done on Holstein cows, so we can then help Holstein members be able to implement and take advantage of those research results as they come along.”

Holstein Association USA is particularly interested in research that advances the profitability and health of Holstein cattle through genetics, but proposals researching other areas of improvement are also invited. Research on the economic benefits of Holstein cows or their products are welcome as well.  Research funded with HAUSA grants are expected to be innovative, exploratory and based on sound science. Research proposals of all sizes will be considered, but Holstein grants are expected to be funded within the range of $10,000 to $80,000 per year. Grant durations are expected to be one to three years.

Holstein Association USA has funded three projects to date. One at North Carolina State University looking at how genomic information can be used to manage inbreeding; a second project at the University of California-Davis exploring the opportunity to breed Holstein cows for heat tolerance using the slick hair gene. The third project is being completed at University of Wisconsin-Madison, researching genetic and physiological aspects of double ovulation and twinning in Holstein lactating cows. These research projects hold great potential for future progress with U.S. Registered Holsteins.

More details about the grant guidelines and process can be found on the Holstein Association USA website, www.holsteinusa.com/programs_services/research_grant.html. With questions or for more information, contact Holstein Association USA dairy genetics consultant Dr. Roger Shanks, at rshanks@holstein.com.

Holstein Association USA, Inc., www.holsteinusa.com, provides programs, products and services to dairy producers to enhance genetics and improve profitability — including animal identification and ear tags, genomic testing, mating programs, dairy records processing, classification, communication, and consulting services.

The Association, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vt., maintains the records for Registered Holsteins^® and represents approximately 25,000 members throughout the United States.

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• China falls short on US dairy imports
• Wild price swings show dairy’s volatility 

Budjon Farms in Lomira, Wisconsin has a very exciting day as 2017 World Dairy Expo Champion Rosiers Blexy Goldwyn gained another point and was named the next EX-97 point cow in the Holstein breed. She is the 41st North American Female to do so and the 3rd daughter of Goldwyn. She is sired by Braedale Goldwyn and out of ROSIERS BEYONCE DUNDEE EX x ROSIERS BURKA TRIUMPHANT EX.  She is owned by Budjon, Vail, Abbott, Van Exel and Woodmansee.

And if that weren’t enough, Unique Dempsey Cheers passed the committee’s view and is now EX-95 also housed at Budjon and owned by Budjon, Abbott, Vail, Woodmansee and Ferme Blondin.

Congratulations to all of the owners!

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But these aren’t just any cows. Scientists genetically engineered the animals to give them an immune system that’s part human. That way, the animals produce disease-fighting human antibodies to Covid-19, which are then turned into a drug to attack the virus.

“These animals are producing neutralizing antibodies that kill [the novel coronavirus] in the laboratory,” Eddie Sullivan, CEO of SAB Biotherapeutics said in a statement to CNN. “We are eager to advance to the clinic as we move forward in the regulatory process with the hopes of bringing this potential COVID-19 therapeutic to patients in need of a solution.”

The company did not say how many people would be studied in the clinical trials or how long they would take.

The 2020 All-American Dairy Show has been cancelled to mitigate the risk of COVID-19. The show was originally scheduled to run September 12-16, 2020 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center.

“Agriculture and youth are the foundation of the All-American Dairy Show,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “These exhibitors are our top priority. We want to see them succeed, with good health and safety, as the future of agriculture relies on them. It’s the right thing to do for our agriculture community.”

The All-American Dairy Association Executive Board understands the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all exhibitors, spectators and volunteers, while also adhering to the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The All-American Dairy Show features nearly 2,000 of the top dairy cattle shown by over 1,000 of the best exhibitors in the U.S. and Canada. With 23 dairy shows in five days, including four days dedicated to youth shows, contests and programs, the All-American Dairy Show is the premier stop on the tanbark trail.

“We have spent months working through options that would have allowed us to host the show, but ultimately the All-American Board had to make the difficult decision to cancel,” said Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex Competitive Events Manager J. Harrison Frantz. “We look forward to being back at full strength in 2021.”

The All-American Dairy Association Executive Board is looking to the future and planning for next year’s All-American Dairy Show set to be held on September 18-22, 2021.

For questions or concerns please contact the All-American Dairy Show Office at aads@pa.gov. More information on All-American can be found at allamerican.pa.gov/.

“It’s always been talked about, but to have it become reality is phenomenal,” said Blake, owner of Blake Farm.

It’s a reality because of the Dairy Stop stand that sits on the edge of his property, which is another dream realized.

“I’ve been (working) two-and-a-half years on this project and I truly feel it’s a game-changer,” said Paul Godin, owner, operator and creator of the Dairy Stop concept.

Godin got his start in the dairy industry while working on his uncle’s farm growing up.

He then began selling Lely robotic computerized milking systems to farmers, like Blake, throughout the state of Vermont.

Now, with the Dairy Stop concept, Godin isn’t only changing the way Vermonters buy Vermont dairy.

He’s changing the status-quo by starting his own milk processing plant on his property in Enosburg, which falls under the Dairy Stop brand.

Godin has partnered with Blake to buy his milk, which he pays close to double the federal milk price for, to produce Dairy Stop milk.

He produces a cream line milk, which is whole milk pasteurized at a low temperature to kill bacteria while preserving the natural enzymes. There are two varieties of Dairy Stop milk: whole white milk and whole chocolate milk.

“(Blake is) getting paid what (he) should (for his milk product),” said Godin.

“It works for both of us. You’re cutting out the middle man and you’re keeping it small town local,” said Blake.

Milk isn’t all you can buy at the 24-7 self-service mini markets, which are monitored by surveillance cameras.

Puddings, cheese, eggs, butter, maple syrup, pancake mix and fresh cuts of beef all from local farms are also available.

“What we’re trying to do is partner with the highest quality products we can find and bring them to consumers at the best value,” said Godin.

“The chocolate milk is a huge hit,” said Cody Boissoneault, owner of Boissoneault Farms in Saint Albans.

So far, having a Dairy Stop stand at Boissoneault Farm has worked out.

The farm has its beef stocked in the Dairy Stop’s freezers.

“(For) vendors, it’s a great place for them to grow their business and then for the farms themselves, where the Dairy Stop is, they do receive a monthly commission which really helps,” said Boissoneault.

The Dairy Stops are a new concept and have only been open at the three locations for about a month. Already, Godin said they’re generating quadruple the projected monthly profit.

Customers seem to love the Dairy Stop concept.

“This was my first time. It was very easy,” said Michael Perkins, who picked up eggs, cheese and milk from the Dairy Stop stand in Fairfax.

“I think (the concept is) definitely a game-changer and it makes me real proud,” said Godin.

He said this is just the beginning.

“We are certainly looking for locations to add more Dairy Stops. Our intention is to have 40 to 50 dairy stops throughout the entire state of Vermont,” he said.

Godin is expecting to open two more Dairy Stops in Ferrisburgh and the Cambridge area in the near future.

If anyone is interested in having a Dairy Stop on their property, Godin is looking forward to hearing from them. The property owner gets a monthly commission, but has to maintain the building and help with re-stocking products.

Godin and Blake are excited knowing their dream is just getting started.

Dairy Stops are located at 10933 Route 105 in Enosburg, 218 Highbridge Road in Fairfax and 549 Lake Road in Saint Albans.

Source: mynbc5.com

US dairy processor and distributor, Borden Dairy will be bought out of bankruptcy by two investment firms, Capitol Peak Partners and KKR & Co. 

According to documents filed in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, New Dairy Opco LLC was the highest bidder during the auction. New Dairy Opco’s portfolio includes Capitol Peak Partners and KKR & Co. 

Capitol Peak Partners is led by former chairman and CEO of Dean Foods, Gregg Engles. Borden tried unsuccessfully to merge with Dean Foods – which has also declared bankruptcy – earlier this year. The majority of Dean’s assets were purchased by Dairy Farmers of America at the beginning of April 2020. 

Meanwhile, KKR & Co is a previous owner of Borden, having bought and privatised the company for $2 billion in 1995

The news comes shortly after Borden filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy back in January, citing market challenges facing the dairy industry and the rising cost of raw milk as contributing factors. 

Borden’s debts at the time were allegedly somewhere between $100 million to £500 million. 

While the sale of Borden seems imminent, bankruptcy court approval is still required. These details and the purchasing price will be finalised during a hearing on Thursday 18 June. 

Source: foodbev.com

In March, COVID-19’s impact on commodities was hard to ignore. Prices across the board took a hit, but some have since rebounded.

That includes milk prices where Minnesota dairy farmers are experiencing a somewhat unexpected turnaround, as demand at grocery stores has been steady.

“For it to all of the sudden come back like this is surprising,” said Andrew Patnode. “Spirits are getting a lot better for everybody I think.”

Patnode is a 6th generation dairy farmer in western Hennepin County. His family has seen a lot over the years, including watching milk prices sour in April. But two months later the market has returned and with it, cautious optimism.

“June milk is looking really good because demand is coming back right now and it’s coming back really fast,” said Patnode.

The turnaround can be attributed to a number of factors, from restaurants re-opening to school food programs.

“A few things happened, it all added together to make a perfect storm in a positive way,” said Lucas Sjostrom.

Sjostrom is the executive director of the Minnesota Milk Producers Association. He said schools typically don’t buy milk in the summer but with COVID, many districts are supplying food and milk to students all summer long. A restaurant resurgence has also helped.

“When you see restaurants re-opening, not just in Minnesota and Wisconsin but across southern states as they have been, that really does affect us here. Even if we aren’t selling directly to those restaurants in the southern part of the U.S., it’s helping our price,” said Sjostrom.

Cutting back on production when the virus first hit lessened the supply but raised prices. And Sjostrom said the USDA and others have stepped up to help with the turnaround.

“I would say, on average, June was a great month and the rest of the year looks like something where farmers can break even or something a little better,” said Sjostrom.

Source: minnesota.cbslocal.com

Dairy Cares of Wisconsin is going virtual for its 10th anniversary campaign.

For nine years, the non-profit organization’s signature event was a summer Garden Party that raised funds on behalf of Children’s Wisconsin (formerly Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin). However, in 2020, during a period of appropriate social distancing, the campaign is shifting to multi-media platforms.

Simulation lab at Children’s Wisconsin

Last year, Dairy Cares brought its lifetime fundraising to $1.3 million, all of which directly benefits children and families facing medical or extraordinary crises. In 2018, Children’s Wisconsin christened the new, state-of-the art “Dairy Cares of Wisconsin Simulation Lab,” which gives medical professionals a safe venue to learn and sharpen their skills.

“We appreciate that these are extraordinary times. The demands on all medical and health care providers are unprecedented,” said Jim Ostrom, Dairy Cares co-founder and a member of the Children’s Wisconsin Foundation Board. “We are asking donors to help in any way they can. Considering our country’s economic turbulence, we are particularly respectful of any decision they make in determining the amount of their donation. Every gift matters.”

Two ways to participate in 2020:

1. Donate directly. Between now and July 25, make online donations at www.dairycaresofwisconsin.org, or send sponsorships and gifts to Dairy Cares of Wisconsin, Inc., N3569 Vanden Bosch Road, Kaukauna, WI, 54130
2. Auction by text. Simply text the word “DAIRY” to 71760, to receive “live” updates as new experiences and gift packages are put on a virtual auction block.

All proceeds will directly benefit the health system, which is headquartered in Milwaukee and offers 40 different care locations through the state.

The “auction by text” technology will allow donors to see specific ways their financial gifts can be put to use during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the acquisition of cloth masks, hand sewn gowns, sanitizer and face shields.

Other Ways to Support Dairy Cares

As in the past, Dairy Cares welcomes new sponsors to contribute to the cause. Contact Laurie Fischer (laurie@lauriefischergroup.com; 920-366-1880) or Jim Ostrom (jostrom@milksource.net; 920-759-4674) for more information.

About Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Headquartered in Milwaukee, the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin provides statewide care through 40 different locations. These various sites provide a range of specialized services, from dealing with childhood terminal illness and cancer to psychological disorders. Experts in premature birth, the neonatal intensive care unit is ranked top in the nation. For more information, visit the website at chw.org.

Whanganui dairy farmer Chris Davison has more of a sparkle in his step, after being awarded a rare green diamond ring from DairyNZ.

And Davison knew exactly what to do with his prize once he received it. He placed the ring on wife Rachel’s finger to thank her for all her love and support.

“It’s right at home on Rachel’s finger, a nice reward for the demanding role of being a mother and a farmer’s wife. She’s the true gem of this outfit”.

Davison, who sharemilks 1,000 cows on the family dairy farm near Kai Iwi Beach, won the prize after being nominated by his mother Jeanette and twin brother Blake for being a “hidden gem” in a competition run by DairyNZ.

Competition for the prized diamond was hot, with more than 400 nominations received in the promotion, DairyNZ Acting GM Farm Performance Sharon Morrell said.

In his nomination, Blake, a milk tanker driver, said his brother was an all-round good guy.

“He’s an outstanding dairy farmer, employer, husband and father. I love him and nominating him to win this diamond is my ‘bro-mantic’ way of showing it.”

Meanwhile, in her nomination, Davison’s mother Jeanette said:

“Christopher is an absolute gem. He’s made a fantastic job of sharemilking on our family partnership farm … including the health, care and reproduction of the animals, managing the feed requirements, managing staff and all of the other aspects of running his own business”.

It was a nice surprise to hear he had won the diamond for being a great farmer, Davison said.

The diamond – a rare green one which may be the only one in New Zealand – was gifted by Auckland jeweller Mark Beckett and his wife Pamela to show their admiration and appreciation for New Zealand dairy farmers.

Davison said he was extremely encouraged to see such a kind gesture extended to dairy farmers from the heart of Auckland.

“This act of generosity is a good reminder that, by and large, most Kiwis appreciate and value what we farmers do. I’m sure many other farmers would feel the same way.”

Although the past 40-plus years of their lives had revolved around precious gems, both Mark and Pamela Beckett hail from dairy farming families.

“Even back then, our farming families had a long-term view of environmental stewardship – everything my father did on the farm was to care for the land and his animals,” Mark said.

“We saw the opportunity to give away this appropriately green coloured diamond to thank the good farmers for their hard work, both as stewards of the land and for bringing us milk.”

Source: nzherald.co.nz

A delivery service that harkens back to the good ol’ days — fresh, cold milk brought right to your door. The milkman is making a comeback because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Getting things you need delivered right to your door feels like the new thing to do, but what’s interesting is recently the pandemic has made something old, something new again — getting your dairy delivered.

And that is giving the milkman a major comeback.

Daryl Mast is the owner of Doorstep Dairy, a company that brings fresh and local dairy, produce, and baked goods from Lancaster, Chester, and Berks Counties to your doorstep every week.

During the pandemic, Mast says while subscription boxes and produce boxes became even more popular, so did their dairy deliveries.

“For years, we spent money on marketing,” Mast said. “Some things work, some things don’t. You try new things. The last three months, we spent zero dollars on marketing and we were overwhelmed with work. It’s been a blessing in that sense, and sometimes if I sit down and think about it, I’ll cry about it.

Mast believes a lot of people are surprised dairy delivery is still around. He says for home delivery customers, 2% and whole milk are their best sellers. Butter has also been a top seller.

“Butter was ridiculous. That was one of those things right up there with toilet paper,” Mast said.

While many were happy to see the dairy on their doorstep, many times they were even happier to see that familiar face once again.

“Back in the ’50s and ’60s it was typical for people to get milk delivered, maybe every other day,” Mast said. “I think it goes back to that nostalgia, some people remember their milkman as a kid. I think some people, they don’t have contact with people, we’re that person who’s there every week, so drink your whole milk.”

Source: philadelphia.cbslocal.com

This was the scene on Porter Road in Troy on Thursday night of last week. Fire crews responded to a large barn fire in Bradford County. It took crews around two hours to put out the flames.

“The trouble with barns is they are so open and most of them are old and there is hay and everything else,” said Troy Fire Chief Roy Vargson. “Once they go it doesn’t take long before its gone.”

“I was hoping I could push it out the door, but it was clear in the back so I went down and around, the call to the fire department had already been made and I was just hoping it would stay upstairs,” said Kris Wright.

The barn belonged to dairy farmer Kris Wright. He says its been a rough few days for his family.

The large fire killed 48 mature cows and 11 young stock and according to Kris Wright, losing those cows was like losing family.

“I lost, to me, the connection to my cows, the barn can be replaced and everything, but those cows had sentimental value,” said Wright.

Wright says he may give up dairy farming because of the damage done to his barn and livestock.

“We’ve been focusing on the cleanup, trying to take a minute and not make any quick decisions and think things through and what happens next is going to depend on a lot of things,” said Wright.

Wright has been farming since high school and this is one of the toughest challenges he has faced yet as a farmer. However, he says the support from his local community has been overwhelming.

“I was on that end of the barn most of the time and I heard that my neighbors loading heifers on the other end and I knew nothing about it and even our local feed company had gates here to help load,” said Wright.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Source: WJAC

A Wisconsin family that’s run a farm for generations is having to make sacrifices in wake of a struggling agriculture industry.

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On The Sweet Pine Farm in Fall Creek, there are a lot of memories.

A story that, in the Badger State, has become far too common.

“There’s no way to really do it without being bankrupt,” Wade said. “We’re rich in our different ways, you know. We don’t have a lot of money, but the connections and the hard work that went into this farm is something that can’t be explained.”

As for Norman, he’s looking forward to some more free time.

Mexico will stop sending temporary workers to Canadian farms that have registered coronavirus cases and that do not have appropriate worker protections.

According to Reuters, Mexico’s labour ministry made the announcement on Tuesday 16 June, however, it did not completely suspend the temporary work programme.

The decision came after a coronavirus outbreak in Ontario hit at least 17 farms, killing two Mexican workers aged 24 and 31, and prompting the testing of about 8,000 migrant farm workers.

Canadian farmers rely on 60,000 short-term foreign workers, predominantly from Latin America and the Caribbean, to plant and harvest crops.

This year, Mexico’s Temporary Agricultural Workers Programme (PTAT) has sent more than 16,000 people on short-term contracts to Canada, including 10,600 people since the pandemic began, the labour ministry said.

The programme was halted only from 19 March to 9 April, restarting after Canadian authorities said there were proper health conditions.

Workers planning to travel to farms that have had coronavirus outbreaks or do “not have a strategy of prevention and care for workers” will be reassigned, the labour ministry said in a statement.

Ken Forth, president of Canada’s Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS), said Mexico is looking for assurances that workers will be safe.

“No additional workers will go to the farms where there’s an outbreak until they can demonstrate to the Mexican government that they’ve done all the protocol for the new workers to come,” Forth said.

CNN and Canadian media earlier reported that Mexico had put the programme on hold while it reviewed Canadian health policies and procedures, citing Mexican embassy officials in Ottawa.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he expressed condolences to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in a recent call.

“We are going to make sure that we’re following up,” Trudeau said, citing living conditions and labour standards as areas that must be considered.

Read more about this story here.

STgenetics® has always been proud to support our dairy youth and this year is no different. In the month of June, STgenetics® has donated $1 for every unit of semen sold to each dairy breed’s junior associations.

To continue this celebration of our dairy industry and our dairy youth we have also spotlighted 7 youth members from each breed. These juniors are what STgenetics® believes embodies the spirit of the dairy industry, many of these youth members are involved in their communities, other agricultural organizations and all have a deep passion for the dairy industry.

These youth members may be from different breed associations and states, however the one thing they all have in common is their dedication to the dairy industry. To learn more about these outstanding dairy youth, visit the link below.

Click here.

Select Sires and the J. R. Simplot Company’s Animal Sciences division have teamed up to bring a new strategic breeding concept to commercial dairy farms. Select Sires is the first and only provider of Simplot’s SimVitro® HerdFlex™-branded beef embryos. Dairy farmers now have the opportunity to sell 100% beef calves born from pregnancies not needed for replacements while advancing elite genetics within their dairy herd and appropriately managing heifer inventories.

“Beef genetics in the dairy industry have been widely adopted, and the supply of dairy-beef crossbred calves has greatly increased,” says Chris Sigurdson, general manager of Minnesota/Select Sires. “By offering Simplot’s HerdFlex™ beef embryos, a new market opportunity opens for dairy farmers.”

Beef calves with superior genetics have the potential to earn a more desirable return on investment compared to dairy-beef crossbred calves or straight dairy calves. Resulting calves from HerdFlex™ beef embryos offer additional benefits related to feeding and finishing, including:

• A consistent, superior genetic package
• Cost per gain advantage
• High carcass merit and marbling
• Availability year-round, delivering a consistent supply to the beef cattle market

HerdFlex™ beef embryos are grade 1, high-quality and commercially produced specifically for placement in dairy cows. Each mating is to a proven Select Sires beef sire to maximize the resulting embryo’s genetic potential and value for key traits such as calving ease, $Beef and ribeye area. The $Beef value index includes weaning and yearling weight, dry matter intake, as well as carcass weight, marbling, ribeye area and fat.

HerdFlex™ beef embryos are produced by Simplot, the largest beef cattle producer in the western U.S. with extensive farm and ranch holdings, including feedlots. Simplot has invested decades of research and improvement to make commercial application of IVF embryos feasible for customers.

“Our team’s deep knowledge of IVF technology paired with a history of innovation in commercial agriculture is a great fit for this partnership,” said Brady Hicks, manager of Simplot Animal Sciences. “Together with the local Select Sires team, we’ll help dairy farms expand opportunities for their businesses and livelihoods.”

Select Sires cooperatives offering HerdFlex™ beef embryos include CentralStar, COBA/Select Sires, Minnesota/Select Sires, Premier Select Sires and Select Sires MidAmerica. Talk with your local Select Sires team member about how HerdFlex™ beef embryos fit into your breeding program.

Select Sires Inc. (www.selectsires.com) is the largest global A.I. cooperative and is comprised of six farmer-owned and -controlled local organizations in the United States. As the industry leader, it provides highly fertile semen, as well as excellence in service and programs to supply dairy and beef producers with the world’s best genetics.

SimVitro® HerdFlex™ embryos are backed by the trusted Simplot brand. The J.R. Simplot Company, a privately held agribusiness firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho, has an integrated portfolio that includes phosphate mining, fertilizer manufacturing, farming, ranching and cattle production, food processing, food brands, and other enterprises related to agriculture. Simplot’s major operations are located in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, South America and China, with products marketed in more than 60 countries worldwide. For more information, visit simplot.com.

The Board of Directors of the National Dairy Shrine announced the cancellation of the 2020 National Dairy Shrine Awards Banquet. The awards program has been held annually in conjunction with World Dairy Expo, and the cancelation of the 2020 World Dairy Expo facilitated the decision.

“Our board reviewed several different options and came to the decision that, with regard to the COVID-19 situation and the health and safety of everyone who may gather for the event, to cancel this year’s awards banquet,” says Nate Janssen, president of National Dairy Shrine. “We look forward to hosting the event again in 2021.”

The honorees who would have been recognized at the 2020 banquet will be honored in 2021. That includes the Guest of Honor, Distinguished Dairy Cattle Breeder and Pioneer award winners. Students who received scholarships in 2020 will also be formally recognized next year, however the monetary value of the scholarships will be provided this year. National Dairy Shrine will select award and student scholarship winners again in 2021, and those recipients will be recognized at the 2021 banquet as well.

“With this format, the adult award winners as well as the student scholarship winners will receive the accolades due to them,” says Janssen. “The National Dairy Shrine is centered on recognizing dignitaries who have made significant contributions to the dairy industry and the youth who are the industry’s future. Recognizing this year’s winners in a formal fashion fits that mission.”

The annual meeting of the National Dairy Shrine, normally held just prior to the awards banquet, has been moved to a virtual format. The 2020 meeting will be held at noon CDT on October 1, 2020.  Additional meeting details will be provided at a later date.

The 2021 National Dairy Shrine awards banquet will be held Thursday, September 30, 2021.

For more information about National Dairy Shrine, the banquet, or the students and dairy industry leaders being recognized this year, contact National Dairy Shrine’s office at info@dairyshrine.org or visit www.dairyshrine.org.