The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of $20.2 million in the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives.

DBI awarded $18.4 million to three current Initiatives at University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency for Food and Marketing and University of Wisconsin, and $1.8 million to the California State University Fresno.

Since its inception in 2019, DBI initiatives have assisted dairy farmers and dairy businesses in business plan development, marketing and branding, and increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques. The overall goal is to support the development of value-added products.

“These awards will expand the scope of the Dairy Business Innovation program and provide much-needed support to small dairy farms and businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt.

“In addition to initiatives in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest, a new initiative for the Pacific Coast is funded, led by California State University Fresno,” she added. “These DBI initiatives provide the dairy industry with additional capacity and expertise that will go beyond immediate assistance and set the stage for a more secure future.”

Source: The Dairy Site

Scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have started a new biotechnology company to apply one of nature’s courier systems to deliver a potentially life-saving medication.

The work, led by Robert Gourdie, director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Center for Heart and Reparative Medicine Research, takes advantage of nanoscale bubbles called exosomes.

But instead of shuttling biomolecules and genetic material throughout the body, these exosomes derived from cow’s milk will deliver a promising new drug to help patients after a damaging cardiac event.

In a study published in August in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Gourdie and colleagues showed that the alphaCT11 molecule had cardioprotective effects in mice, preventing the spread of cell death in heart muscle tissue – even when administered 20 minutes after a heart attack.

A challenge for realizing the potential of this therapeutic compound is getting it to the stricken heart tissue intact.

“The drug appears to be very effective, but the next question we’re asking is what is the best way to guide this drug to target heart cells, while making it convenient for patients to ingest? That’s what my lab and Tiny Cargo are addressing,” Gourdie said.

Peptide drugs, such as alphaCT11, are tiny, fragile chains of amino acids that aren’t absorbed into the bloodstream if they don’t break down quickly in the stomach and small intestine. As a result, these types of drugs are often administered to patients via injections to overcome stability and absorption limitations.

Tiny Cargo’s nanosized technology seeks to overcome these challenges by using exosomes as delivery envelopes that patients can take by mouth instead.

Gourdie, the Commonwealth Research Commercialization Fund Eminent Scholar in Heart Reparative Medicine Research and a professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, recently licensed the intellectual property through Virginia Tech’s LICENSE: Center for Technology Commercialization. He formed The Tiny Cargo Co. in Roanoke, Virginia, to carry the idea to the clinic.

“Exosomes are suitable for targeted drug delivery because they are naturally designed to cross through biological barriers and are robust enough to withstand hydrolyzing enzymes in the blood and fluctuations in acidity and temperature that would otherwise break down the drug’s chemical bonds before it reaches the targeted organ,” Gourdie said. “By loading peptide drugs like alphaCT11 into exosomes, we’re seeking to protect the chemical integrity of the drug while guiding it to be recognized by specific cell types in the body – including those ailing in a heart attack.”

Once regarded as fatty waste disposal containers secreted by cells, exosomes emerged as a potential drug delivery method in 2007 when Swedish researchers observed cells releasing exosomes containing genetic material used to regulate protein synthesis and gene expression in neighboring cells. Over the past decade, research into their function, transmission pathways, and the potential pharmaceutical applications has surged.

Some scientists are developing artificial capsules to mimic exosomes, while others, like Gourdie and his team, are finding answers in nature.

Milk generated by nursing mammals is packed with exosomes, apparently to deliver important nutrients, proteins, and other signaling molecules from the mother to the nursing baby. Researchers expect exosomes derived from mammalian milk will be more easily absorbed and tolerated by patients than synthetic substitutes.

“Pharmaceutical companies have not been keen to develop drugs based on peptides, even when they show great promise in animal studies, as they are difficult to administer to patients and break down quickly in the body,” Gourdie said. “Orally delivered exosomes from cow’s milk could provide a way to overcome both these barriers.”

Before it’s safe to proceed with clinical testing in humans, the scientists need to analyze the exosome’s stability and address potential immune reactions. Gourdie’s team is also analyzing ways to target exosome transfer so the medication-laden molecules are recognized and absorbed by specific cell types, enabling the drug to affect specific organs.

The drug is a new, more potent modification of a larger therapeutic molecule, alphaCT1, which clinical studies show can accelerate diabetic foot ulcer healing and reduce inflammation. It works by temporarily interrupting a cell signaling channel between cells formed by a protein called connexin 43.

Without functional signaling pathways, injured cells directly affected by the heart attack can’t influence surrounding healthy tissue to self-destruct, a phenomenon referred to by scientists as the “bystander effect.”

By limiting the spread of injury following a heart attack, Gourdie and his team expect the alphaCT11 drug and Tiny Cargo’s exosome packaging could one day lead to better patient outcomes.

Source: The Cattle Site

Not long ago, I heard a news story that was shocking and perhaps a sign of the times. A large toy retailer was complaining that shipping companies are price gouging. He stated that costs to ship Christmas toys from China to the U.S. will increase by more than seven times this year.

He also expressed concern that many toys Santa seeks to deliver to hopeful children, as well as gifts bought by others, simply will not be available this year.

What is coming to the world?

But then a more horrifying thought came to me. What if people leave Santa a tall glass of nut beverage with his chocolate chip (my personal favorite) cookies?

I imagine that you are chuckling right now, but could we be staring at this possibility for the future? When will the dairy industry begin to take seriously the yearly increase in consumer purchases of non-dairy fluid beverages? Recent reports indicate that sales of non-dairy ice cream are also on the rise.

According to a 2020 study by the market research firm Market Consult, 32% of consumers drink non-dairy “milks” at least once a week, and 12% said they drink dairy alternatives all the time.

Almond beverage is by far the favorite, with 69% of those who purchase non-dairy. Coconut beverage is second at 21%. Research conducted by the Plant Based Foods Association closely parallels these results.

Seventy three percent of these dairy alternatives are used with cereal, and over 60% are used for straight drinking, in smoothies and coffee, or in cooking.

In the past year since that study, oat beverages passed coconut, according to a recent poll by Nielsen. Research participants like its “smooth and creamy taste,” which I have also seen mentioned in television advertisements. Well, I can tell you that this is one consumer who will not be checking that out any time soon!

You may think that there are certain demographics that prefer dairy alternative beverages, but that is not the case. Men are just as likely to consume alternatives as women, and there is no skew toward a liberal political ideology. There is, however, a slightly higher (but not significant) level of urban and suburban, as well as younger consumers, who prefer the non-dairy offerings.

COVID-19 has certainly made it difficult to carry pre-pandemic trends forward for any type of analyses, and the plant-based beverage market did grow at a slower pace in 2020, but prior to that there had been a 61% increase in U.S. non-dairy “milk” over a five year period. Digest that for a moment — 61% in five years!

What is the dairy industry supposed to do — or what can it do — to address the threats posed by increased sales of alternative beverages?

As I noted in an article a few weeks ago, education about the nutritional benefits of milk is key to winning this fight. It is not enough to promote whole milk. We need to promote all dairy as more healthful than the plant-based products.

The Mayo Clinic made the following statement last year: “It’s tough to beat dairy milk for balanced nutrition.”

Not only does dairy have more natural nutrients, but the quality of the nutrients is also important. Just looking at dairy protein, it is of higher quality than protein from plants because it has what is referred to as “high biological value,” resulting from a complete array of amino acids that are more usable by the body.

Soy protein is considered to have a high biological value, but its usability by the body has not been studied. These notes on dairy proteins versus plant proteins from Practical Gastroenterology in 2018 also include this powerful statement: “Most other proteins (beyond soy protein) found in plant-based milks are not complete and do not offer the full array of essential amino acids.”

We in the dairy industry must do a better job of educating ourselves and making certain that the positive — and indisputable — message about dairy nutritional benefits gets distributed and repeated over and over.

Join me in making sure that Santa does not have to drink a dairy alternative with his cookies this Christmas.

The Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board supports efforts to promote research and education related to dairy nutrition. We are always available to respond to questions and concerns. I can be reached at 717-210-8244 and by email at chardbarge@pa.gov.

Source: lancasterfarming.com

The crisis reserve of €487.6 million was not used in 2021

The deductions were meant to finance the agricultural crisis reserve and to make sure that the overall ceiling of the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) was not overrun. Direct payment ceilings had to be established before an agreement was concluded on the EU budget for 2021-27, said the European Commission.

The crisis reserve of €487.6 million was not used in 2021 and together with some additional appropriations available for reimbursement, a large share of the amounts deducted from direct payments this year shall therefore be reimbursed to farmers by Member States from today.

Source: thedairysite.com

Jordan Baumgardner, left, is consoled by his wife Jamie who holds their daughter Grace. Jordan, herdsman at the family’s Mount Vernon dairy farm, struggled in flood waters in the night to save 250 dairy cows and is… (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)

The Baumgardner family knows the risks of flooding well.

Their sprawling Baumgardner Dairy Farm sits just south of the Skagit River, which is so routinely swollen by rainwater and snowmelt that the nearby city of Mount Vernon built a floodwall. So as the rain kept falling hard the night of Nov. 14 and the Baumgardners herded their cows to fenced “critter pads” on higher ground, everything looked wet but normal, said Jordan Baumgardner, who helps manage the dairy farm owned by his father, David Baumgardner.

But the resulting flood proved to be unlike any other the family had experienced at the farm. The flooding claimed the lives of 44 cows the family had nurtured and watch grow up, and left behind extensive damage they are still trying to assess.

“I carried every single one in my arms at some point when they were born,” Jordan said. “All the cows were born on this farm, which makes the tragedy all that greater.”

The extent of damage from the near-record flood for dairy farmers in Skagit and Whatcom counties may not be known for months, said Dan Wood, executive director for the Washington State Dairy Federation. But the Baumgardner Dairy Farm, one of about 100 dairy farms in the two counties, appears to be the hardest hit, he said.

In the middle of all the devastation, community members have stepped up to offer resources and help to the neighbors affected by the flooding, Wood said.

“Creatures of habit”

The Baumgardner family had prepared their farm the weekend before the Skagit River was expected to crest on Nov. 16 in Mount Vernon as an atmospheric river with its heavy rains washed over the Puget Sound region.

“It’s a giant undertaking,” said Lucinda, David Baumgardner’s wife. The family had to clear up items from the basements in the property’s two homes in case they flooded, as well as secure their 500 or so milking cows, heifers and calves, and their feed.

David Baumgardner bought the dairy farm in 1996.

David made sure the high-ground critter pads where the family’s cows, calves and heifers would stay during the flooding were prepared, and he purchased extra feed for the animals just in case, he said.

There were three layers of protection for the cows, David said. Keeping the cows inside the “critter pads” was an electric fence surrounded by barbed wire and steel panels.

Before dawn, Jordan answered a call from his father, who said the cows were no longer in the critter pads. Jordan raced outside and stumbled into icy water that was 4 feet high and only saw two cows from the 250 still on one critter pad.

“This flood made the previous floods look like nothing,” Jordan said.

The rising water had apparently caused the electric fence to short circuit, making it easier for the cows to break out of the pads as they felt the urge to return to the barn to be milked as was routine.

“They’re creatures of habit,” Jordan said.

Jordan and his brother spent over three hours in chest-deep water with hip and chest waders trying to get every single cow out. The whole family was in and out trying to get the cows out from the flooded area and back to the high ground until it became too unsafe.

“Some people may say your life isn’t worth any amount of cows, but I was willing to try and get close to saving them all,” Jordan said. But there was a point where the water was far too deep for anyone to wade through safely.

“It was tough to leave them,” he said.

The current was strong enough to knock over Jordan’s sister, Shayleigh Baumgardner, 19, as she tried to make her way down to the stalls. She was able to hold onto a fence and make her way back to shallower water.

It was as terrifying for her as it was for her mother, Lucinda, who had watched Shayleigh get swept into what looked like a whirlpool.

“We had each other, which made the situation a little easier,” Shayleigh said. The next morning Shayleigh woke up to bake chocolate chips cookies to try to lift everyone’s spirits.

“I think it worked a little,” she said.

A family endeavor

The Baumgardner family is still picking up the damage left behind.

Jordan, like many of his nine siblings, started helping out on the family farm as soon as he could walk, he said. But it wasn’t until he was around 15 that he took on full-fledged responsibilities. Now at 31, he is the herdsman and co-manages the dairy farm alongside his father.

In addition to Jordan, Jacob and Shayleigh, all siblings, also work around the farm, Lucinda said. The Baumgardners also have three full-time employees, who feel like family.

David said he still feels a tremendous sense of guilt over the loss of 44 cows. While 42 cows drowned, one was seriously injured and had to be put down while another fell violently ill and died. Every cow can be traced back to the original 20-head herd David purchased around 1980.

These cows are important to the family, not just because they help support the family business. David said they view each cow as an individual, with its own personality and temperament.

“A lot of our animals are just like great big dogs,” David said. “They belong here and we care for them.”

Hard to look

Even now, it’s hard for Lucinda to look at the damage the flood left behind in her home.

“It’s unimaginable, the damage water can cause,” she said

The flooding in the farm was 5 inches higher than any previous flood the family or any other farmer in that area had experienced, David said. The water level mark in the workshop is a full 5 inches higher than the mark left behind by the record 1990 flood the previous owner traced.

The trio of Skagit River dams absorbed a “significant part of the flood,” but officials had to release some of the water because the reservoirs were full, according to the National Weather Service. The dam discharge was not expected to create additional flooding, officials said.

“With the previous floods, there was a sense that you were sitting in the middle of a big lake,” David said. “This flood had a driving current flowing through.”

The cows weren’t milked for 56 hours, Lucinda said. A whole week’s worth of milk had to be thrown out, which cost the farm $20,000 dollars. The cows are still producing about half of what they usually do, which will go on for quite some time.

“We’re trying to stay optimistic because we still have to go on,” David said.

The support coming from the community has been overwhelming, David said. Other farmers stepped up to help remove the dead livestock, aided in the cleanup and offered to donate feed.

“We usually have the mentality that this is just another knock that we’re gonna have to take and it hasn’t wound up being that way,” he said.

But a neighbor set up a GoFundMe page for the family to assist them with the costs of damage. The page was a few thousand dollars shy of reaching its $52,000 goal Friday evening.

The family is still getting about 400 stalls cleaned up and working to get fresh bedding for the cows, David said.

The main focus is on taking care of all the animals, getting them clean and dry, David said.

Long road to recovery

Though not all dairy farms in the Whatcom County and Skagit area were flooded, there were concerns about potential feed disruption after the largest feed mill in the region, EPL Feed in Sumas, Whatcom County, was flooded and electronics were damaged, said Wood with the Washington State Dairy Federation.

The mill supplies feed for about 100,000 milking cows in Western Washington, but was unable to produce feed for over a week, he said. About two to three days ago, EPL was able to resume making feed, but is still not producing farm-tailored feed like it usually does.

In the meantime, other farmers stepped up to donate feed directly to dairy farmers or made donations to the federation to help address that, he said.

The rail line in Sumas had 15 breaks, which was disrupting the supply chain. Those are all fixed now or at least close to being fixed, Wood said.

Beyond the dairy farms, 1,200 people were displaced from their homes in Sumas alone.

“It’s tough when you see a storm like this hit and things happen that haven’t happened to folks in particular areas, but you see the humanity come out where folks are helping each other out, and that’s pretty amazing,” Wood said.

Source: Seattle Times

B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham, Delta South MLA Ian Paton and Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun meet with farmers from the Sumas Prairie, Nov. 23, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Milk production across B.C. is back to 90 per cent of normal, with more Fraser Valley dairy farms starting to operate as flood water has receded, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said Friday.

“Yesterday more than 1.5 million litres were picked up in the Lower Mainland,” Popham said at a Nov. 26 briefing with Emergency Management B.C. “This was due to better access to the Sumas Prairie. Multiple farms were being inspected and cleared for production. These volumes include the Okanagan and Kootenay farms. That milk is being delivered to Alberta and there is sufficient supply for all.”

The B.C. Cattlemen’s Association held a roundtable discussion with Popham and ministry staff Thursday, and ranchers outside the flood and landslide-affected areas are arranging feed supplies for Fraser Valley farms. With CP Rail returning to work and Highway 1 open as far north as Hope, grain is moving again, particularly red wheat to restart flour mills, Popham said.

Poultry farms lost thousands of birds, and barns are being cleaned and disinfected as flooding permits. Popham said with Highway 1 open, more people are coming through, and she appealed for privacy as farmers deal with the destruction.

“The pictures that we’re seeing, these are our neighbours, they’re our communities, and it’s unsettling,” she said. “And we need to be respectful of the hurt, the pain that’s in the hearts of our farmers right now.”

Federal and provincial officials are working on reconstruction aid for farmers, beyond B.C.’s Business Management Risk program and private insurance. A federal program is expected within weeks, and affected farmers should contact AgriServiceBC at 1-888-221-7141 to indicate their needs, Popham said.

Source: Abby News

A single European starling can eat the equivalent of half its weight daily, which equates to roughly less than 2 ounces.

It seems like an insignificant amount if a handful of starlings perch at the feedbunk and feast away. But the diminutive birds can cause enormous losses for farmers, especially when they swarm into a barn by the hundreds or even thousands every time feed is put out for the cows.

And it does happen.

According to USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center, Pennsylvania dairies lose 6.3% of their feed to starlings each year — about 178 million pounds. Large flocks of starlings can drive feed costs up 33% and reduce milk production, and that’s not all.

A swarm of European starlings cover the roof of a dairy barn in Pennsylvania. Some farms have reported more than 10,000 starlings on site, and the birds cause a host of financial and animal health issues. 

While starlings can consume a significant amount of feed, they also generate plenty of waste, triggering a host of disease issues. NWRC research shows the occurrence of Johne’s disease on Pennsylvania dairies can increase as much as 148% where large starling populations are present. Salmonella cases can skyrocket 900%, and veterinary bills can rise 25%.

The losses are staggering if not devastating during a time when feed costs are already climbing.

Nokota Harpster, wildlife biologist with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Harrisburg, said her office has encountered dairy barns with infestations of 10,000-plus starlings that feast every time the cows are fed.

Harpster and the affected farmers have a term for these non-native nuisance birds.

“Rats with wings,” she said. “There’s just tons of them, and farmers experience a huge economic loss.”

Myron Gehman milks more than 300 cows on his farm in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, and he’s been battling starling problems for years. The birds roost on the large trees around his house, sit on the water fountains inside the barn and feast at the outside feedbunk whenever he puts out TMR (total mixed ration) for his cows.

The numbers vary each year, but Gehman estimates there are hundreds of starlings invading his farm.

“They’re terrible, dirty and defecate all over everything,” he said. “You see droppings where they roost, droppings on the feed, and it’s unbelievable how much feed they can consume. They cluster at the bunk and just peck away at the flake roasted beans in the TMR.”

Gehman knows it’s nearly impossible to eradicate the birds, but when the damage gets to the point where he can’t tolerate it anymore, he calls Harpster to address the situation.

Limited funding prevents USDA Wildlife Services from managing starling populations on every dairy farm where a problem exists, but Harpster said they do respond to those who request assistance.

Calls were higher than normal last year, she said, and the Harrisburg office treated six farms alone. Costs to a farmer requesting treatment from Wildlife Services varies based on mileage, supplies and time, but Gehman said the expense is worthwhile.

“I’ve been very happy with what Nokota does. Starlings are tricky and their behavior changes, so it’s a challenge to control them,” he said. “It’s like trying to figure out rats. They’re evasive.”

Droppings from European starlings coat the backs of several cows on a Pennsylvania fairy farm. In addition to a financial impact due ot feed losses, starlings can cause disease issues on dairy farms.

USDA APHIS photo

Wildlife Services employs a detailed plan of attack for starling problems. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Game Commission and state and local police are notified prior to any treatment program. The process starts with pre-baiting for five days using a specialized feed to attract the starlings and get them accustomed to coming to a particular location to eat. Then, USDA biologists come in and put down a treated feed containing a toxicant. Once ingested, the starlings die in three to 48 hours, Harpster said, and there are no secondary effects for other animals, such as a cat or hawk, that may consume a dead starling.

“We require farmers to report all non-target bird species coming in to eat with the starlings,” Harpster said. “But 99% of the time, when you have hundreds or thousands of starlings coming in, you rarely see songbirds.”

Farmers are responsible for cleaning up dead starlings after a treatment, and any that remain are targeted in a second application or harassed with shotgun blasts and chased away.

Gehman said the treatments are effective, but sometimes it requires patience.

“The starlings tend to feed here and roost at a neighbor’s farm. The last bait we did here, by mid-morning the starlings disappeared like they wanted to roost, so we thought it wasn’t working,” he said. “But my neighbor called and said we had a good kill because the dead starlings were all over at his place. They went over there to roost after eating the bait. He didn’t mind cleaning them up because he wanted them gone as well.”

There are an estimated 160 million starlings nationwide, so the problem will likely persist. Federal and Pennsylvania laws do not protect starlings, but the use of avicides in the state is regulated by the Department of Agriculture. Toxicants such as Avitrol and DRC-1339 (which includes Starlicide) are classified as restricted use pesticides in Pennsylvania, and can only be used by a state-certified pest control operator. In the case of concentrated DRC-1339, use is restricted to USDA personnel.

Source: Lancaster Farming

CREMONA INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK EXHIBITIONS, THE ITALIAN MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE” THIS IS AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY AND WAS VERY MUCH NEEDED”

The Italian Minister for Agriculture officially opened Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions.

Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions were officially opened on Friday 26th November, by the Italian Minister for Agriculture Stefano Patuanelli that show the government support to the agro-livestock system. Manlio Di Stefano, undersecretary to the Ministry of International Affairs sent a video message and other institutional representatives were also there, such as: Filippo Gallinella, Prosident of the Agricultural Commission of the Chamber of Deputies; Silvana Comaroli, Chamber of Deputies; Luciano Pizzetti, Chamber of Deputies; Massimiliano Salini , Europarliament; Fabio Rolfi,  Counsellor for Agriculture and Food of the Region Lombardy, Matteo Piloni,to represent the President of the Regional Council, and of course Roberto Biloni, Presidente of CremonaFiere and Massimo De Bellis, General Manager of CremonaFiere.

“This Exhibition is very important not only for Cremona but for the whole country – said Stefano Patuanelli, Italian Minister for Agriculture -. It is an international Exhibition that was very much needed in such a difficult moment. A challenge that has been won thanks to the strong desire to keep activities run. The agro-livestock sector plays a central role in the strategic plan, in the new CAP and in governmental policies since it is a very important pillar for our economy”.

CremonaFiere has always been the right channel to spread topical themes for the sector, such as innovation, sustainability and animal health. “Cremona is highly influential as to agro-livestock – said Fabio Rolfi, Counsellor for Agriculture and Food of the Region Lombardy -. It is fundamental to create meeting opportunities to take stock of the progresses achieved by breeders in terms of environmental sustainability, animal welfar, innovation and food safety. I am thankful to CremonaFiere to represent, this year as well, the whole production chain. Regione Lombardia will always support agro-livestock businesses”.

“I am very glad to be present at Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions, even if with a videomessage. – said Manlio Di Stefano, Undersecretary for the Minister of International Affairs – First of all, I’d like to thank the President and the General Manager of CremonaFiere. This important event is a top appointment for the agro-livestock sector in Italy and one of the most influential worldwide. Italian agrolivestock ranks first in Europe as to the highl level of agricultural added value, in particular Cremona area. This sector never stopped during the pandemic and the dairy sector registered a relevant increase in exports in the first seven months of 2021 in all the market of the European Union and with +40% in North America, +25% in Eastern Asia and +23% in Africa”.

“Our territory is very importanto for national agriculture. We are in the region that represents 45% of the Italian livestock sector – explained Roberto Biloni, President of CremonaFiere – we are the first province for agriculturale GDP and also in this difficult period, breeders decide to come here to show the excellence of their productions. Cremona is ready to invest on agriculture, livestock and sustainability.

This conference wa sonly one out of the 60 technical and scientific events scheduled during the Show with the aim of offering powerful tools to improve livestock farms efficiency and productivity while also having a strategic vision on international markets.

Three passionate and ambitious members of Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) have been selected as finalists for the Holstein UK President’s Medal Award. Holstein UK is delighted to announce the finalists as Cari Thomas (Cornwall), John Mclean (Northern Ireland) and Rachel Williamson (Border & Lakeland).

The President’s Medal is awarded to a HYB member who has made an outstanding contribution to the breed, Holstein Young Breeders and, in particular, their own Club. The finalists will attend the Semex International Dairy Conference in January where the overall winner will be announced. The ultimate winner of this most coveted and prestigious title will receive an engraved President’s Medal from the Holstein UK President, alongside a visit to the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in November 2022, courtesy of Semex. Each of the three finalists will also receive a memento to commemorate their achievement.

The entry process began as each Club was asked to nominate one young breeder aged between 18 and 26 years of age. Six young breeders were shortlisted for Zoom interviews with the panel of judges, consisting of Holstein UK President John Jamieson, Semex representative Rodger Mather and 2017 President’s Medal winner Helen Eastham representing Holstein UK.

To be considered for the award, entrants were asked to write and submit an essay titled “The Time is Now to address climate change. As the future of the industry, share your vision of what a sustainable dairy operation should look like.”

Commenting on the finalists, John Jamieson said “We interviewed six exceptional candidates, each with such a passion for the dairy industry. It was an extremely hard decision to shortlist down to our three finalists but they showed a great depth of knowledge through their essays and following the interviews, I am reassured that the future of our dairy industry is in great hands.”

Holstein Young Breeders (HYB)
You don’t have to be a farmer to join HYB.  If you are aged between 4 and 26 and have a passion for the dairy industry, HYB is for you! HYB is the youth subsidiary of Holstein UK. Visit the Holstein Young Breeders website.

Feature:

• Cremona International Holstein Show 2021
• Cremona International Jersey Show 2021
• Cremona International Brown Swiss Show 2021

Top News Stories of the Week:

• Ferme Jacobs Rocks the Dairy World with Outstanding Sale
• Fire burns at southern New Mexico dairy operation
• 500 cows killed in B.C. floodwaters, says dairy association
• BC Dairy Update – Cattle Evacuation and Milk Supply
• Squeezed by low prices and a worker shortage, 60-year-old Maine farm shuts down
• American Cows Are Making Less Milk as Farmers Cut Back on Feed

Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions, historical appointment for professionals of the sector and privileged observatory on one of the pillars of the agrifood sector, are starting on Friday 26^th. The Italian Minister for Agriculture, Stefano Patuanelli will also be there and will attend the official opening of the Exhibition: a 3-day-event featuring 200 national and international exhibitors presenting machinery, equipment, technologies and services for livestock and agriculture. 14 international Delegations of buyers and institutional representatives are coming to Cremona, since it plays a key role for agro-livestock markets. The Exhibition is also very much awaited by breeders, who for the first time in the last two years, will have the chance to join an international livestock show counting 470 heads of cattle from 75 livestock farms, from Italy and from abroad.   A really unique event, taking place in a year that has deeply been impacted by health emergency and being even more involving thanks to the presence of an International Auction with a charity scope.

“Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions roots in our strong desire to represent such an important sector. Starting again was not so easy this year due to the health emergency, but the event will take place and will, as usual, favour business and relations  – says Roberto Biloni, president of CremonaFiere -. The Exhibition will be a chance for professionals to exchange a vision on market and this is the main role of a specialized exhibition. To this extent, next to a high-level exhibit repertoire, we have developed a scientific and cultural programme with over 60 appointments to discuss the key topics of the sector , from renewable energies from agricultural sources, to precision livestock farming up to presentation of international market trends and new business outlets. All this, thanks to the cooperation with the most important technical and scientific research centres and institutions and with breeders, who asked us to be the protagonists of such a top-level event”.

Cremona International Livestock Exhibitions  are also an important opportunity for consumers, since they provide the chance to get in touch and explore in depth one of the fundamental production chains of Italian economy: two historical exhibitions are on display, with historical agricultural machinery and on Sunday, November 28, a guided tasting of cheese organized in cooperation with ONAF Association will bring consumers closer to the dairy chain.

“The Exhibition is at the service of the sector: from breeders to consumers. Consumers shall appreciate the value of the whole production chain – concludes the President of CremonaFiere, Roberto Biloni -. To this extent, the Exhibition cooperates with sector institutions and associations, to share the vision on the future, discuss problems to be solved and enhance the value of our productions”.

For further information and to read the complete events programme prease visit the website www.fierezootecnichecr.it

Substantial completion of the addition for the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) has been achieved. As a part of a four-year, $72 million, two-phase project, the completion of the addition marks a significant milestone for the University and the dairy industry.The CDR is known as one of the premier dairy food research centers in the world. With more than 30 researchers and scientists onsite, the CDR focuses on scaling down large-volume manufacturing and exploring functional, flavor and physical properties of cheese, cheese products and other milk components. The CDR significantly benefits the dairy industry, offering specialized training and short courses with over 1,400 industry personnel impacted annually.

The two-phase construction project consists of a new addition to the CDR (Phase I) and Babcock Hall Dairy Plant renovation (Phase II). The $47 million, Phase I expansion gives the program two full floors of research space, training center for dairy industry employees, specialized ripening rooms, space for different styles and types of cheese vats, and ample dry and cold storage space.

Phase II is now underway to modernize the dairy plant, which will add a new ice cream maker, more freezer and cooler space and an improved raw milk processing. Additionally, new piping, pumps and valves will be installed to move milk and milk products more efficiently around the plant. Phase II renovations are scheduled to be completed in Fall 2022.

C.D. Smith Construction, Inc. (C.D. Smith), of Fond du Lac, WI, provided general contracting services to UW-Madison. During Phase I CDR Addition, C.D. Smith self-performed concrete, structural steel, masonry, studs and drywall, and carpentry trades. In Phase II Dairy Renovations, C.D. Smith will self-perform demolition, masonry, concrete, studs and drywall, carpentry and structural steel trades.

C.D. Smith has played a vital role in providing construction services to Wisconsin’s dairy manufacturers. Over the last 85 years, C.D. Smith has provided construction services to dozens of iconic dairy producers throughout the state, including Grande Cheese Company, Sartori, Saputo, Sargento Foods, Schreiber Foods, Masters Gallery Foods, Land O’Lakes, Baker Cheese and many others. This extensive knowledge and expertise in dairy manufacturing construction made C.D. Smith a natural choice for the CDR Expansion and Dairy Plant renovations.

Source: PR Newsire

Barbara O’Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, said agriculture has an “open door of opportunity” amid growing pressures and expectations to feed a growing population sustainably and responsibly during her opening comments at the Sustainable Agriculture Summit, Nov. 17-18.

The Summit, conducted under the theme “Regeneration and Resilience,” annually convenes the collective food and agriculture value chain to learn, develop and advance a shared vision for a sustainable and resilient U.S. food system.

O’Brien referenced recent events including the UN Food Systems Summit and COP26 (26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) as examples of how the conversation has reached an apex globally. She said this is U.S. agriculture’s time to collectively lead and demonstrate its vital role in the health of people and the well-being of the planet. She cited a recent global survey that revealed agriculture is the third most-trusted industry when it comes to acting on climate change, exceeded only by the renewable energy and technology sectors.

“And yet, while trust in agriculture is high, consumers want to know more, with 65 percent of people saying they don’t know much – or anything at all – about climate change solutions,” O’Brien said. “They want to be better informed but say they can’t find information they trust or easily understand. And overwhelmingly, they want to hear less about the problem, and more about the solutions.

“This means U.S. agriculture has an open door of opportunity to demonstrate our determination to innovate and to lead in being good and responsible stewards of the land. While we know there are no easy solutions, we also know we are stronger together.”

Kelly Bengston, senior vice president and chief procurement officer at Starbucks, served as the Summit’s keynote speaker and stressed how the coffee company values the contributions of farmers, including the nation’s 31,000 dairy farm families. Bengston said dairy remains an integral part of its business and is featured in more than half of Starbucks’ core beverage offerings.

“For 50 years, Starbucks has been dedicated to inspiring and nurturing the human spirit – one person, one cup, one neighborhood at a time,” Bengston said. “And in that time, we’ve also learned an important fact – our future is tied to the future of farmers, their families, and the health of our planet. Right now, from the impacts of the climate crisis to rising costs, we know it’s never been harder to be a farmer.”

Bengston said dairy and coffee account for more than a third of the company’s carbon emissions. This led to Starbucks last year announcing 2030 targets to reduce its carbon, water and waste footprints by half. Starbucks also joined the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative (NZI), collaborating with the industry on research, on-farm pilots and programs to make the adoption of sustainable practices and technologies more accessible and affordable to farms of all sizes.

To that end, Bengston announced that Starbucks is partnering with Alliance Dairy in Trenton, Fla., to apply and measure innovative technologies and regenerative farming practices that build an economically viable path to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve water use efficiency and quality.

As part of this pilot, technologies such as evaporative nutrient recovery will be explored with the goal of helping Alliance Dairy become a source of renewable and organic fertilizer and water reuse, while significantly reducing GHG emissions.

“At Starbucks, we are focused on driving innovation at scale to support people and planet,” Bengston said. “This includes identifying new ideas and technologies with our partners that are meaningful to farmers, and then working hard to help get them on their farms.”

The Summit included various breakout sessions and panel discussions, including one that featured a group of industry leaders examining the implications of the UN Food Systems Summit (UN FSS) for U.S. agriculture, which took place Sept. 23. The UN FSS convened international stakeholders from across the food system with the goal of transforming the way the world produces, consumes and trades food. The event served as a call to action to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

More than 2,000 ideas were submitted during the UN FSS, including several Game Changers offered by U.S. dairy and other agriculture sectors. Coalitions were announced to drive action on priorities following the summit. Organizations including the Innovation Center, U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Dairy Council were engaged throughout the UN FSS process as were several other U.S. agriculture organizations.

“The U.S. dairy industry determined early on that UN FSS provided an important opportunity to participate, to demonstrate industry leadership and share with the world our commitments to sustainability and continuous improvement,” said panel moderator Janice Giddens, vice president of sustainable nutrition for the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “We wanted to ensure that the U.S. dairy supply chain, from farmers to processors, to retailers and exporters, was recognized for the contributions it makes to creating healthier, more sustainable and resilient food systems for all.”

Dairy Sustainability Alliance Holds Fall Meeting

The 2021 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Fall Meeting followed the Summit on Nov. 19. The Alliance is a multi-stakeholder initiative of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and includes more than 150 companies and organizations. Representatives exchange ideas, best practices and tackle shared challenges on issues affecting the industry to accelerate progress toward common sustainability goals.

O’Brien kicked off the meeting praising the 34 cooperatives and processors – representing 75 percent of U.S. milk production – who have adopted the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment. The commitment allows companies to demonstrate and document how they responsibly produce milk and dairy products, reporting on key priorities such as animal care, environment, food safety and community engagement. She also referenced the dairy community last year setting the 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals.

Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, O’Brien said the industry has set in motion a cascade of environmental work at the feed, farm and processor levels that includes:

• Pilots and research projects to identify and scale solutions that will be a win-win for farmers and the environment.
• Transparent reporting of progress at the processor level, included for the first time in aggregate within the 2020 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report.
• Communications efforts to share the practices and resources available that make a meaningful difference in improving dairy’s environmental footprint.
• Baselines being set with an eye toward future goals where U.S. dairy can have positive impact.

“In a world where hundreds of companies, countries and global organizations are setting public-facing net zero goals, U.S. dairy’s leadership is critical in keeping dairy – and animal protein overall – positively positioned within global discussions around what constitutes sustainable food systems that can nourish both people and the planet,” O’Brien said.

“It has taken a lot of work to get where we are as a dairy community, and yet we know there is more that we can do to ensure that dairy continues to earn a place in homes and in communities around the world.”

Other meeting highlights included:

• Donald Moore, executive director of Global Dairy Platform, and Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, assessed the potential policy and market impacts that the UN FSS and COP26 will have for dairy. They offered views on how these events will influence global expectations not only for exports but for sustainable businesses in all markets, as well as what is needed for U.S. dairy to provide solutions and to remain competitive.
• Dairy farmers Sam Schwoeppe (Indiana), Matt Freund (Connecticut), Tara Vander Dussen (New Mexico) and Jim Werkhoven (Washington) participated in a discussion to share how they are approaching sustainability and what the broader value chain can do to support their efforts.
• Sustainability author and strategist Dan Esty provided a keynote address where he explored dairy’s place in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Esty touched on how nearly every aspect of business is viewed through a sustainability lens, and investors are incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into their approach, putting pressure on companies to demonstrate how they will operate in a net-zero economy and resource-restrained world. He said the U.S. dairy industry taken steps that have it positioned to be part of the solution.

For information about the industry’s sustainability work and the dairy checkoff, visit www.usdairy.com.

Holstein Association USA is thrilled to present the 2021 All-National Showcase honorees. Launched in 2019, the All-National Showcase Program recognizes U.S. Registered Holstein® cows and their owners for outstanding performance at National Holstein Shows. Exhibitors from across the country earned points throughout the show season.

“After taking a break in 2020, we are excited to present the second group of All-National Showcase honorees” says Jodi Hoynoski, Executive Director, Holstein Identification & Member Services. “It has been extra special having Registered Holsteins parade around the ring this year, and we are honored to recognize these outstanding animals and exhibitors.”

The top 10 animals in each class and full details on the All-National Showcase Program rules and point system can be found at http://www.holsteinusa.com/allnational.

Congratulations to the following All-National Holsteins!

All-National Breeder
James & Nina Burdette, Mercersburg, PA

All-National Exhibitor
Jim Butler, Chebanse, IL

Summer Heifer Calf
All National: BUCKMEADOW US MADELYN, Colt & Luke Buckley, KY
Reserve All-National: EXPRESS-SMD VITTORIA, Express Holsteins & Stan-Mar-Dale Holsteins, OH

Spring Heifer Calf
All National: WINDY-KNOLL-VIEW PESKY, Jim Butler, IL
Reserve All-National: REYNCREST DLAMBDA LIT UP, Reyncrest Farms Inc., NY

Winter Heifer Calf
All National: GLEN-PAUL WARRIOR BACARDI, Audrey Sidle & Marissa & Logan Topp, OH
Reserve All-National: BUDWEISERS DNVR BROOKLYN-ET, Jim Butler, IL

Fall Heifer Calf
All National: MS REBAS RAVEN BEAUTY-ET, Glamourview – Iager & Walton, MD
Reserve All-National: BORDERVIEW DENVER CHLOE-ET, Brian & Becky McGee & Vickie Roudabush, PA

Summer Yearling Heifer
All National: TOPPGLEN GOLDCHIP WAKIKI, Colton Thomas & Caroline Egolf, OH
Reserve All-National: MERRILLEA BITTY BUG, Merrillea Holsteins, NY

Spring Yearling Heifer
All National: KIMBALL-WAY GDWYN MONDAY-ET, Glamourview – Iager & Walton, MD
Reserve All-National: CHEERS AVALANCHE CHARLEY-ET, Rocco Cunningham, CA

Winter Yearling Heifer
All National: MS LACES UPGRADE LACIE-ET, Jim Butler, IL
Reserve All-National: TAL-VIEW TATOO PISTOL, Michael & Julie Duckett & Matt L Hawbaker, WI

Fall Yearling Heifer
All National: MILKSOURCE UNIX CHASSUP-ET, Jacob & Logan Harbaugh & Erin R Viergutz, WI
Reserve All-National: BANOWETZ DIAMOND RING, Shawn & Levi Banowetz, IA

Milking Yearling
All National: ROSEMARY UNIX GOLDIE, Jim Butler, IL
Reserve All-National: DUCKETT UNIX LACY, Triple-T Holsteins, R Pierick & S McWilliams, OH

Summer Junior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: B-J-GROVE UNIX CHEROKEE, Kasey E Clanton, IL
Reserve All-National: ESPERANZA-CC THUNDERSTRUCK, Jim Butler, IL

Junior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: HOBBY-HILL DENVER ELIZABETH, Gracin & Chesney Speich, WI
Reserve All-National: LADYROSE CAUGHT YOUR EYE-ET, GenoSource, IA

Senior Two-Year-Old Cow
All National: TREE-HAYVEN TATOO LAST SONG, Michael & Julie Duckett, WI
Reserve All-National: PINELAND TATOO POUTINE, Jacalyn C. Bortner, PA

Junior Three-Year-Old Cow
All National: DINAS D DELORA-ET, Hogge, Dymentholm & Wadeland So Dairy LLC, UT
Reserve All-National: WRIGHTVALE DOORMAN LIVVY, MB Luckylady Farm, CA

Senior Three-Year-Old Cow
All National: OAK-RIDGE-K GCHIP TURBO, Milk Source LLC & Ransom Rail Farms Inc, WI
Reserve All-National: HERITAGEGRD HIOC CABARET-ET, Elmvue Farm, NY

Four-Year-Old Cow
All National: STONE-FRONT UNION IMELDA, The Imelda Group, WI
Reserve All-National: OAKFIELD SOLOM FOOTLOOSE-ET, M & J Duckett, Vierra Dairy & T & S Abbott, WI

Five-Year-Old Cow
All National: K-HURST ARMANI DAZED-ET, Jay R. Ackley, OH
Reserve All-National: RUANN DOORMAN JEAN-55162-ET, Stephen & Patrick Maddox, CA

Six-Year-Old & Older Cow
All National: GLEANN BRADY PRIVATEER, M & S Mitchell, B Engleking , J Eby & Rosay Farm, TN
Reserve All-National: ERBACRES SNAPPLE SHAKIRA-ET, Ferme Antelimarck 2001 Inc, Ferme Jacobs Inc, Ty-D Holsteins, Kilian Theraulaz, & C&F Jacobs, QC

150,000 Lb. Lifetime Milk Production Cow
All National: BLONDIN GOLDWYN SUBLIMINAL-ETS, Peter & Lyn Vail & Budjon Farms, WI
Reserve All-National: FARNEAR TBR ARIA ADLER-ET, A Simon, A Dougherty, M Rauen T & R Simon, IA

Contact Jodi Hoynoski at 800.952.5200, ext. 4261 or jhoynoski@holstein.com with questions about the All-National Showcase program. Congratulations to all the exhibitors!

Tunbridge dairy farmers whose cows became sick after ingesting stainless steel wire found in their feed last fall have sued the telecommunications companies they believe are responsible. 

Amber and Scott Hoyt’s complaint — filed by Arend Tensen, an attorney with the New Hampshire-based firm Cullenberg & Tensen — names four defendants: Eustis Cable Enterprises, ValleyNet, ECFiber, and Crammer O’Connors Fiber Genesis. 

It accuses those parties of negligence, nuisance, trespassing and consumer fraud, and asks for punitive damages and a trial by jury. It was filed Nov. 5 and served Nov. 18. 

In a statement, ECFiber Chairman F. X. Flinn said the telecommunications companies had been working for months to “resolve the matter, determine responsibility, and ensure that those who are responsible are held accountable.” He expressed disappointment that the Hoyts had gone ahead with the lawsuit.

“Attorney Tensen’s decision to file suit at this sensitive time, at the precise moment when the parties and their respective carriers had come to the table in good faith, has likely significantly delayed resolution of the Hoyts’ claim,” ECFiber officials said in a statement issued Friday. 

Donna McCann, a paralegal at Cullenberg & Tensen, which represents the Hoyts, said the firm has “no comment to make regarding our decision to file suit at this time.” Amber and Scott Hoyt also declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The problem remains unresolved for the Hoyts, who previously told VTDigger that the situation could be crucial for their farm. Three cows died after ingesting wire, and more than 70 have been exposed to the contaminated feed. 

In August, the farmers learned their insurance claim had been denied because the subcontractor who performed the work wasn’t fully insured at the time. 

ECFiber, a communication union district that serves the Upper Valley, has been working to expand broadband in the area. The district hired a contractor, Eustis Cable, to help complete the job, and Eustis hired a subcontractor, Crammer O’Connors Fiber Genesis, whose workers used a stainless steel lashing wire to “lash a cable or cables to a supporting strand” between telephone poles in the fields where the Hoyts harvested hay, according to the complaint. ValleyNet operates the line.

Crammer O’Connors Fiber Genesis worked in Tunbridge on five dates during the fall of 2019, and that’s when “lashing wire was discarded or left in the fields by Crammer’s installation crew,” the complaint alleges.

Then, in September 2020, the Hoyts found pieces of mangled wire, like needles, in their cows’ feed, which is made of hay mixed from several fields. It appeared the chopper that mowed their fields had inadvertently ground wire in with the hay. 

The Hoyts have taken standard measures to prevent so-called “hardware disease,” which can affect farm animals that inadvertently ingest metal or other farm equipment. Their chopper is equipped with a metal detector that collects metal pieces, and the cows swallow magnets that harmlessly sit in their stomach to collect stray hardware they might ingest. 

But the type of stainless steel wire found in the fields wasn’t magnetic, so it slipped through the farmers’ protective measures. 

Since last December, some of the cows have shown symptoms the Hoyts hadn’t seen before: sudden bloody noses, signs of discomfort, a high number of aborted calves and declining milk production. With their vet, the Hoyts performed necropsies of cows that died and pulled wire from their bodies. More than 70 have eaten the contaminated feed. 

“As a result of the feed being damaged in the fall of 2019, plaintiffs’ herd was exposed to the feed and all are at risk of dying or being injured,” the complaint says. 

Damages suffered by the Hoyts, according to the complaint, include the cost of replacing contaminated feed, reduced milk production, veterinary services, time spent caring for sick cows and investigating the problem, damage to their fields and a reduction in the value of their herd. 

“Plaintiffs have suffered personal injury and severe emotional stress as a result of witnessing the damages being occasioned by their dairy herd and operations, being unable to control the numerous problems experienced within their operations and engaging in extraordinary efforts in an attempt to correct those problems,” the complaint says. 

ECFiber’s statement said the district hopes to resolve matters by Christmas this year. 

Source: vtdigger.org

A fire was burning Sunday afternoon at a southern New Mexico dairy operation.

The flames broke out at the Big Sky Dairy on Stern Drive in Vado, which sits just off an I-10 access road.

Images from an ABC-7 photographer at the scene showed flames burning at the facility and the fire spreading among hay bales.

Details were scant, it wasn’t known what ignited the fire or the full extent of the damages.

An online business directory said Big Sky operates a dairy farm and milk production effort from a 6,000-square foot facility at that location that has been in operation since 1992.

Source: ABC7

Thousands of farm animals have perished in B.C. floods, and thousands more will be in “critical need of food” over the next few days, according to the province’s minister of agriculture.

“This is a very difficult time for agriculture in B.C. and our producers,” said Lana Popham during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

“Over the last two days, I’ve been able to have FaceTime discussions with farmers, and some of them are in their barns, and some of their barns are flooded, and you can see the animals that are deceased,” she added. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Popham said her ministry has made more than 300 contacts with B.C. agriculture groups and individual farms since the flooding began earlier this week.

“I feel confident that we’ve covered off most commodity groups and people understand that we’re there with them,” she said.

Hundreds of farms have been affected by flooding, including both those that are underwater and those that have stayed dry, but are cut off from necessary resources.

Many farmers on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford have stayed put, despite evacuation orders, refusing to abandon their animals.

Owners, along with volunteers, are desperately trying to save cattle.

Frightened cows are being towed one by one through treacherous flood waters behind jet skis. They are then pulled to safety and herded into trailers.

One of the people using a boat to help in the effort is Abbotsford resident Menno Koehoorn.

“The cows are very confused,” Koehoorn told CTV News. “They’re of course shivering and shaking and panicked … There were a lot of brave people out there – 50, 60 people wading cows across.”

He has spent the past two days on the water.

“The best thing is we’re community, so everybody is helping everybody,” said Koehoorn.

Still, the situation is heartbreaking.

“There’s going to be dead livestock and dead chickens and some other things,” said Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun. “We know that a lot of the cows came out. The heroic efforts of our farmers was unbelievable. I wish you could see what I saw.”

But the emotional mayor says many calves drowned when waters rose to four or five feet.

Paulette Johnson, 66, and her 86-year-old husband David, were rescued from their farm on Tuesday after a frightening 24 hours in the flood zone. Her husband has been sick and has since been hospitalized.

“I was scared, but I didn’t let myself be scared because I knew I couldn’t be,” Johnson said. “I was really worried about my husband and my livestock.”

She says the water came up fast, flooding her home and leaving the cows standing in water as well.

“The hay started floating and they were eating the hay as it floated,” she explained.

She says her neighbours were able to care for the animals and the water had started to recede at their farm.

She’s extremely grateful to those who rescued her after previous attempts had failed.

Meanwhile, Popham promised disaster relief funds for farmers affected by the disaster, and added that B.C. is working with other provinces, the federal government, and private businesses not affected by the floods in an effort to secure food and other resources – such as medical care – for animals that survived the flooding.

“There will have to be euthanizations that happen, but there are also animals that have survived that are going to be in critical need of food in the next few days,” Popham said.

Flooding in the Fraser Valley also inundated the province’s animal health lab, which conducts testing for diseases in livestock in the province, as well as safety testing for B.C. milk, according to the minister.

Popham said Alberta and Saskatchewan have offered their labs for milk testing while B.C.’s facility is out of commission.

The agriculture minister’s remarks came after earlier comments from the mayor of Abbotsford regarding the devastation in the Sumas Prairie.

“I saw barns that looked like they were half full of water,” Braun said. “I can’t imagine that there are any birds left alive.”

Dairy and chicken farms cover the area, where residents in 1,000 properties were told to evacuate on Tuesday.

Farmers spent hours Tuesday working to transport their animals to safety, in some cases relying on boats and other watercraft.

Braun said he watched farmers trudge through water that was 1.5 metres deep to get the livestock out.

The situation grew more frantic Tuesday night when it appeared a crucial water pump station would be overwhelmed. Braun urged those farmers who had ignored the evacuation order to leave their animals and get out.

By Wednesday, the pump station had been surrounded by sandbags and Braun said he felt better about the situation.

The flooding situation in parts of southern British Columbia has forced farmers to lean on each other to save their animals, says the chair of the board for the BC Dairy Association.

Holger Schwichtenberg said he was not yet sure how many farmers were working to move their milking cows, but in such situations, they would reach out for help to get their animals off-site.

He said 25 to 30 cows were being transported to his own farm in Agassiz on Tuesday from another farm in the Fraser Valley, east of Vancouver.

“This is an example of an industry coming together when things really get ugly,” Schwichtenberg said. “We’re doing the best that we can with the situation that we’ve been handed and it’s a tough one.”

Moving livestock is time consuming and stressful for the animals and people involved.

“You’ve got trucks, you’ve got neighbours, you’ve got whoever’s got a pickup truck or something to haul cattle in and you start moving them to higher ground or you’ve made arrangements to get them off-site,” Schwichtenberg said.

Braun said Tuesday watching farmers work to save their animals was “heartbreaking.”

“They want to protect their animals. Many would give their lives for their animals,” Braun told reporters.

Schwichtenberg said this week’s flooding has put a strain on the industry, which is still reeling from a disastrous summer.

“We had a long, hot summer, we had a very poor growing season unless you had irrigation, the ongoing effects of COVID, and now we have this situation,” he said.

“It’s testing the resilience of dairy farmers, that’s for sure.”

Source: bc.ctvnews.ca

Giant New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra is pushing ahead with a capital restructure proposal despite not gaining support for it from the New Zealand government.

The changes include placing a cap on the listed Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund, which is open to investors in Australia, including non-farmer shareholders.

The proposal would see its NZ farmer suppliers required to hold a reduced minimum of one share for every three kilograms of milk solids they produce and allows for additional farmer classes, including sharemilkers, to hold shares in the co-op.

But the NZ government has not backed the proposal, which will require changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA), under which Fonterra was formed.

Fonterra released the government’s advice in details about the proposal sent to NZ farmer shareholders on Wednesday, two days before voting starts on November 19.

In the letter, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said “it would be difficult for the government to support an amendment to DIRA to facilitate the proposals”.

“The current proposals envisage a legislative change to remove key mechanisms that risk weakening performance incentives on Fonterra,” he said.

“Without alternative measures, I am not yet assured that these proposals would deliver the best long-term outcomes for farmers or the dairy sector as a whole.”

Mr O’Connor said he was concerned the proposal would create division between farmers with minimum shareholdings to supply milk and those with larger shareholdings for investment.

“My concern is that this could result in competing shareholder priorities relating to Fonterra’s future direction and strategy,” he said.

Bur Mr O’Connor said the government acknowledged a successful and innovative Fonterra was central to a well-functioning dairy industry, which was vital to the NZ economy.

“Ensuring that Fonterra operates as a strong, intergenerational, farmer-owned dairy processor is therefore important for the New Zealand dairy industry’s future,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said he was prepared to consider an alternative, more balanced proposal from Fonterra.

Fonterra remains confident it can get the government on side.

Fonterra chair Peter McBride said he had spoken with the minister and was confident that it could provide the necessary assurances and work with the government to find a regulatory framework to support the new structure.

He urged farmers to exercise their vote.

“This is one of the most profound decisions we will make as farmers,” he said.

“There is no perfect answer, but we are confident that the flexible shareholding structure will support the sustainable supply of NZ milk that our long-term strategy relies on.

“One enables the other, and together they give our co-op the potential to deliver the competitive returns that will continue to support our families’ livelihoods from this generation to the next.”

READ MORE: The future of Fonterra in Australia

Fonterra plans to hold a special meeting to vote on the proposal, which requires a minimum 75 per cent support from votes cast, following its annual meeting on December 9.

The proposal has already passed one hurdle – the requirement of a 50pc support vote by the Fonterra Co-operative Council, the representative body elected by farmers to represent their interests.

The council voted 92pc in support of the recommended changes.

READ MORE: Chunk of Fonterra Australia may hit the market

But the proposal has disappointed the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund, which wanted Fonterra to buy back the fund, in part, due to its poor performance.

Units in the fund have fallen almost 30pc since it was launched in 2012.

Unit holders in the fund are not able to vote on the proposed changes as they are not Fonterra shareholders.

The co-op is aiming for a June 1, 2022, start date.

Changes to initial proposal

Fonterra has made changes to the proposals, first floated in May and detailed in September, in response to feedback from farmer shareholders and the shareholders’ fund.

Mr McBride said the decision to go ahead had been informed by a significant volume of shareholder feedback that showed strong support for the changes.

“Our strategy is focused on New Zealand milk, and our future success relies on our ability to maintain a sustainable milk supply in an increasingly competitive environment and one that is changing rapidly due to factors such as environmental pressures, new regulations and alternative land uses,” he said.

“We see total New Zealand milk supply as likely to decline or flat at best.

“Our share of that decline depends on the actions we take with our capital structure, performance, productivity and sustainability.

“If we do nothing, we are likely to see around 12-20pc decline by 2030 based on the scenarios we have modelled.”

Mr McBride said changes made from the proposals outlined in September included:

• The introduction of thresholds to support the alignment of share ownership and milk supply. These would reflect Fonterra’s intention that the total number of shares on issue in the co-op would be within +/-15pc of total milk supply, and that the proportion of shares held by ceased suppliers would be less than 25pc of the shares in the co-op.
• The way dry shares would be allocated to associated shareholders (sharemilkers, contract milkers and farm lessors) had been simplified to make it easier for them to apply to hold dry shares.
• The overall limit on the size of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund had been reduced from 20pc to 10pc of total shares on issue, rather than having a total ban on any further shares being exchanged into units. This recognised that the fund size, which was currently around 6.7pc of total shares on issue, could change from time to time subject to the overall limit. Shares would still not be able to be exchanged into units on a day-to-day basis, and the board would retain its current rights to regulate this process.

Source: farmonline.com.au

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) honored Kenton Holle as the 2021 recipient of the Richard E. Lyng Award for his contributions and distinguished service to dairy promotion.

Holle, a dairy farmer from Mandan, N.D., was recognized at the Joint NDB/National Milk Producers Federation/United Dairy Industry Association Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

The award is named for former U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Richard E. Lyng, who played a critical role in implementing policies that led to the establishment of NDB more than 35 years ago. The Lyng Award honors leaders who have made a significant contribution to dairy promotion that benefits the entire industry.

“This award celebrates farmers who have shown a long-standing commitment and dedication to dairy promotion,” said Alex Peterson, Missouri dairy farmer and chair of the NDB. “Kenton exemplifies this leadership with a more than 15-year commitment to advancing farmer priorities nationally, regionally and locally.”

Holle served as chair of the NDB in 2013-14. As chair, he oversaw the evolution of the national program from generic image advertising to helping grow sales and trust in dairy by working with and through the industry. “Kenton did a masterful job in sharing with other farmers why the transition to partnership was so valuable to the checkoff,” Peterson said.

This commitment to promotion extends through Holle’s community involvement. As a member of his local Lions Club, Holle was instrumental in the creation of “Salem Sue,” the world’s largest Holstein cow that is located on a hill outside of New Salem, N.D., and remains a national tourist attraction.

Today, Holle and his family continue to share dairy’s story and its importance to their community by hosting numerous farm tours, “breakfast on the farm” events and other activities at their Northern Lights Dairy.

As part of the Richard E. Lyng Award, the NDB will contribute $2,500 in Holle’s name to North Dakota State University’s College of Human Sciences and Education.

For information about the dairy checkoff, visit www.usdairy.com/for-farmers. 

Riverview Dairy LLP will be constructing its sixth large dairy west of Willmar in the area where Chippewa, Swift and Kandiyohi counties meet.

The Chippewa County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional use permit Tuesday for a 10,500-animal unit dairy to be developed in Grace Township along Minnesota Highway 40, about 23 miles west of Willmar.

Riverview LLP currently operates the similar-sized East and West Dublin, Louriston, Swenoda and Meadow Star dairies in the open expanse between Willmar and Milan and south of Benson.

Grace Dairy represents an estimated $60 million investment. It’s expected to generate an estimated $3 million a year in wages and $90,000 in property taxes, according to information presented Tuesday.

No timeline has been set for its construction. While its development could get underway in 2022, that is not yet decided, Riverview representatives Tom Walsh and David Yost told the West Central Tribune.

The Chippewa County planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the permit for the dairy after holding a public hearing Nov. 10.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources had urged Riverview Dairy LLP to consider a different site for its planned Grace Dairy due to the site’s proximity to the Grace Marshes Wildlife Management Area. The project is moving forward on the original site as proposed. Contributed / Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

County Board chair David Nordaune said several neighboring landowners had expressed concerns about potential impacts on their domestic water supplies, as well as traffic. About an equal number of people attended the hearing to voice support for the project, according to Nordaune.

He said the company had met the requirements of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Department of Natural Resources, and also the county’s land use ordinance. A turn lane on Highway 40 will be constructed to address traffic concerns. The dairy will handle an expected 250 trucks weekly.

The dairy is projected to use 120 million gallons of water a year. It will produce an estimated 85 million gallons of manure, which will be applied on 7,300 acres of farmland each year. The company has lined up 12,113 acres for applying the manure, according to its permit.

Walsh told the commissioners that the dairy’s water appropriations permit requires that the operations do not impact the water supplies of neighboring farms. He said the company is committed to working with any landowner with concerns.

“There is what the law requires and then there is what’s called doing the right thing,” he told the commissioners.

Commissioner Candice Jaenisch said there had also been some concerns raised about the density of livestock in the area with the addition of this dairy. She noted that there are also hog operations in the area. The county has no ordinance regulating livestock density. Walsh and Yost said the area where the dairies are located has ample acreage to both provide feed for the dairies as well as use the manure.

The No. 1 cost of production for the dairy is feed, said Walsh. The dairy expects to purchase 75% to 85% of its feedstock from farms near the dairy, along with soybeans processed in Dawson.

The new Grace Dairy to be constructed by Riverview Dairy LLP will occupy a quarter section of land in Grace Township, Chippewa County, roughly midway between Willmar and Milan along Minnesota Highway 40. Contributed / Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Two landowners near the dairy urged the commissioners to approve the permit.

Kyle Petersen, who has invested in Riverview dairies, pointed to its dairies already operating in the area.

“They are good players. They run a good operation,” Petersen said.

Floyd Hettver cited the economic benefits for neighboring farms producing feed for the dairies.

“It’s been good for us,” he said, “to keep the family out there farming in our community.” He called the dairy “a positive for us out there in the middle of nowhere.”

The dairy will ship approximately nine semitrailer loads of milk for processing each day when in full operation. Yost and Walsh said no decisions have been made on where the milk will be shipped at this point.

Along with offering the land and water resources the dairies need, the area west of Willmar is also located within reasonable distances of dairy processing facilities. They include First District in Litchfield; Associated Milk Producers in Paynesville; Lakes Area Cooperative in Perham; Valley Queen in Milbank, South Dakota; and Agropur in Lake Norden, South Dakota.

The commissioners unanimously approved the conditional use permit with Bill Pauling, Jaenisch and Nordaune voting. Members David Lieser and Matt Gilbertson were not present.

Source: wctrib.com

The dairy checkoff has awarded 12 academic scholarships to students enrolled in programs that emphasize dairy and who have shown potential to become future dairy leaders.

The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB), through Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, annually awards $2,500 scholarships to 11 students. In addition, the NDB awards a $3,500 James H. Loper Jr. Memorial Scholarship to one outstanding scholarship recipient.

Eligible majors include journalism, communications/public relations, marketing, business, economics, nutrition, food science or agriculture education. Scholarship criteria include academic achievement, a career interest in a dairy-related discipline, along with demonstrated leadership, initiative and integrity.

Ashley Hagenow, a University of Minnesota student who is majoring in agricultural communications and marketing, has earned the 2021-22 Loper scholarship.

Students earning $2,500 scholarships are: Amelia Hayden (University of Minnesota – Twin Cities), Meghan Hettinga (South Dakota State University), Theodore Jacoby (South Dakota State University), Lance Lynn (Texas A&M University), Bobby Marchy (Oklahoma State University), Brianna McBride (Iowa State University), Margaret Molitor (South Dakota State University) Kaitlin Mirkin (University of Idaho), Jessica Schmitt (Iowa State University), Mackenzie Ullmer (University of Wisconsin-Green Bay) and Kendra Waldenberger (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities).

The Board of Directors of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the nation’s leading milk marketing cooperative and global dairy foods company, today announced the appointment of Dennis Rodenbaugh to the role of president and chief executive officer, effective at the end of 2022. Rodenbaugh will succeed Richard P. (Rick) Smith who plans to retire after leading the organization for the past 16 years.

Rodenbaugh, who has a background in dairy farm management and ownership as well as banking and finance, currently serves as executive vice president and president, council operations and Ingredients Solutions for DFA. He has led numerous business units since joining the organization in 2007, including DFA’s milk marketing, member services and global ingredient divisions. Rodenbaugh has led initiatives to drive member services, customer relationships, operational efficiencies, business development and marketing strategies designed to deliver value to DFA member-owners and meet the needs of our valued customers and consumers. As part of DFA’s senior management team, he has helped lead strategic planning, crisis preparedness, business continuity and other enterprise-wide initiatives.

“Rick is an iconic and dynamic leader who has been instrumental in transforming DFA’s culture and business, and we will be forever grateful to him for his tremendous leadership and are proud of where we are today,” said DFA Board Chairman Randy Mooney. “In Dennis, we have a strategic leader who has a deep understanding of our family farm-owners, a strong vision for the future of DFA and a proven ability to lead. Through his years of experience and performance with our organization, he has earned the respect and support of the Board and employees alike.”

“Dennis embodies the values of DFA,” said Smith. “He is an integrity-based leader with a passion for bringing value to our farmer-owners. We are confident he will help navigate the organization into its next chapter successfully.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to take on this leadership role for such an amazing organization where I have the continued privilege to work with our farmer-leaders, our members and with DFA’s very talented team of management and employees, as well as our customers across the country and globally,” said Rodenbaugh. “I’ve had the great fortune of being part of Rick’s senior management team these past 14 years, and I’m pleased that he’s agreed to contribute in an advisory role into the future.”

Following last Friday’s press conference, we were able to guarantee that we could set up a corona safe event within the indicated legal frameworks of the government. In the course of this week, the corona infections increased seriously. This is starting to affect our entrants, our sponsors and our large group of volunteers. The overcrowded test sites across the country make multiple days of testing for access very difficult. This sum of things makes it almost impossible to set up a beautiful Holland Holstein sHow with confidence.

We as board have done everything we can to make the show possible. But we have decided, with pain in our hearts, to cancel the Holland Holstein sHow 2021.

The catalog and associated items will be delivered to you today or tomorrow. It was ready and we didn’t want to withhold it from you.

We are considering an alternative program, about which we will get back to you shortly. We count on your understanding.

Kylie Konyn, Escondido, Calif., has been crowned the 64th National Jersey Queen.

Kylie was presented the Charlene Nardone Crown by 2020 National Jersey Queen Natalie Berry on November 7, 2021, at the start of the National Jersey Jug Futurity in Louisville, Ky.

She will represent Jersey breeders for the next year with participation in events such as the 154th Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA), World Dairy Expo and The 70th All American Jersey Shows & Sales.

Also serving on the national court of royalty are first alternate Caroline Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, Pa., and second alternate Maria Joy Poock, Boonville, Mo.

The National Jersey Queen contest spanned three days with 11 outstanding young women from across the country competing for the coveted crown.

Kylie is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is majoring in dairy science and plans to double major with either life sciences communications or genetics and genomics. Following her undergraduate studies, she hopes to pursue a master’s degree in nutrition or genetics.

“My platform is aimed at promoting and educating others of the many programs available through the American Jersey Cattle Association,” commented Kylie. “I chose this platform as a means of educating others about the numerous programs available to youth today. Youth programs are the future of our industry and serve as an educational background for many aspects of the industry including marketing, research, and management of a dairy farm.

“I’ve always had an interest and passion for the Jersey industry. This passion has been fueled by the outpouring of support of mentors and programs through the AJCA. I want to “pay it forward” to the youth coming behind me.”

Kylie has served as the California Jersey Queen, Western National Jersey Queen and was a member of Class VII of Jersey Youth Academy. She and her family have shown Jerseys at the state, regional and national levels. She has volunteered at the California State Fair in the dairy education booth, teaching the public about the benefits of the dairy industry. Her herd, Aspire Jerseys, is enrolled on REAP and utilize many programs provided by the AJCA.

Caroline Arrowsmith is a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in animal science with a minor in agribusiness management. She plans to work for a large-scale calf and/or heifer raising facility as a young stock specialist to gain experience and credibility. Her long-term goals are to be a youngstock specialist for an animal health or nutrition company.

Caroline’s platform is, “Jerseys Do More for Less.” Caroline states, “Jerseys have long been known for their high butterfat and protein solids in their milk. Today this is extremely beneficial to farmers as more and more milk checks are including high component bonuses or using component-based pricing. This means dairy producers with Jerseys are often able to have a higher milk price than farmers with other breeds, even though they may produce an overall lower volume of milk.”

She is a member of the Pennsylvania Jersey Cattle Association and the Penn State Dairy Science Club. She has held many leadership positions through the Lancaster County dairy 4-H program. She enjoys showing her Registered Jerseys at the local, state and national levels. Caroline was a member of Class VI of Jersey Youth Academy.

Maria Joy Poock is a senior at the University of Missouri. Maria states, “I want to help people understand that agriculture is a positive influence in our world and is a safe and effective way to feed people around the world for generations to come.

She is currently serving as the 2021 Missouri State Jersey Queen and was a member of Class VI of Jersey Youth Academy. Maria is a mentor at the University of Missouri’s farm working with students caring for the calves. She also helped this past year with Missouri 4-H Dairy Cow Camp at the Missouri State Fair.

The Queen and her court presented awards for the National Jersey Jug Futurity and The 69th All American Jersey Show. They also assisted with the clerking of The All American Jersey Sale.

The Charlene Nardone National Jersey Queen Fund provided scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates.

For more information, follow the National Jersey Queen program on Facebook @USJerseyQueen.

The American Jersey Cattle Association, organized in 1868, compiles and maintains animal identification and performance data on Jersey cattle and provides services that support genetic improvement and greater profitability through increasing the value of and demand for Registered Jersey™ cattle and genetics, and Jersey milk and milk products. For more information on the association’s complete line of services for dairy business owners, visit the website at www.USJersey.com or connect at Facebook.com/USJersey.

The official Jersey All American and Reserve All American winners of 2021 have been announced by the American Jersey Cattle Association. The All American events are held annually in Louisville, Ky., in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.

The winners in each class were:

Milking Yearling

Du Sillon Premier Krunchie-ET, Misty Meadow Dairy, Tillamok, Ore., All American winner

Arethusa Andreas Sunlight-ET, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., Reserve All American winner

Summer Junior Two-Year-Old Cow

Kevetta Colton Delilah, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., All American winner

KCJF Colton Shakira, Keightley & Core, Jackson Powers and Frank and Diane Borba, Salvisa, Ky., Reserve All American winner

Junior Two-Year-Old Cow

Rivendale VIP Eloise, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., All American winner

Whitdale Gentry Graceful-ET, Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., Reserve All American winner

Senior Two-Year-Old Cow

Rivendale VIP Faye-ET, Keightley-Core and Borba, Salvisa, Ky., All American winner

Pacific Edge Premier Diva-ET, Brent L. Rocha, Tillamook, Ore., Reserve All American winner

National Jersey Jug Futurity

Homeridge T. Annette, Kylie and Dawson Nickels, Travis Freson, Mandy Sell and Scott Stanford, Watertown, Wis., Winner

Pacific Edge Colton Jazmin-ET, Brent L. Rocha, Tillamook, Ore., Reserve winner

Junior Three-Year-Old Cow

Milk & Honey Vaden Fern-ET, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., All American winner

BJ Texas Madrid, Megan and Sarah Hill, Bristol, Vt., Reserve All American winner

Senior Three-Year-Old Cow

Summer Breeze Tequila Gayle,Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., All American winner

Top Gene Joel Pastel, Misty Meadow Dairy, Tillamook, Ore., Reserve All American winner

Four-Year-Old Cow

Sugar Brook Bartender Bridgett, Underground Genetics and Adam Clark, Pitcher, N.Y., All American winner

Royalty Ridge-RF Gentry Fabulous-ET, Tatum Grace Lancaster, Tillamook, Ore., Reserve All American winner

Five-Year-Old Cow

Lone Pine Joel Jugojuice 9807, Misty Meadow Dairy, Tillamook, Ore., All American winner

SVHeaths Tequila Jolie Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., Reserve All American winner

Aged Cow

Krohlow Comerica Anna, John Vosters and James Ostrom, Kaukauna, Wis., All American winner

Edgelea Tequila Sheraton, Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., Reserve All American winner

Lifetime Cheese Production Cow

Hirds Colton Dream, Keightley-Core and Borba, Salvisa, Ky., All American winner

Random Luck T. Heather, Red Dirt Genetics, Perkins, Okla., Reserve All American winner

Senior Best Three Females

Pacific Edge Jerseys, Tillamook, Ore., All American winner

Random Luck Jerseys, Darlington, Wis., Reserve All American winner

Junior Heifer Calf

Double Shawt Premier Shine, Rebecca and Carly Shaw, Fairplay, Md., All American winner

Ratliff Kid Rock Rubies-ET, Pacific Edge Syndicate & Roc-Pit Genetics, Tillamook, Ore., Reserve All American winner

Intermediate Heifer Calf

Kevetta Nuance V-Max-ET, Triple T, Michael Heath and Renee Pierick, North Lewisburg, Ohio, All American winner

J-Kay Fizz Phoenix, Clark and Alicia Morgan, Urbana, Ohio, Reserve All American winner

Senior Heifer Calf

Rivendale Joel Keep Her Secret-ET, Michael Heath, Mark and Will Iager, Westminster, Md., All American winner

SV Tequila Topsy Tango-ET, Vierra Dairy Farms, Hilmar, Calif., Reserve All American winner

Summer Junior Yearling Heifer

Schulte Bros Colton Fabulous-ET, Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., All American winner

Lehearth Tequila Dior, Nolan Lee Kummer, Evans City, Pa., Reserve All American winner

Junior Yearling Heifer

Four-Hills Joel Badger 67489-ET, Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., All American winner

Ravineside Venetian Gypsy, Lauren Reed, Columbia Crossroads, Pa., Reserve All American winner

Winter Yearling Heifer

Cold Run Joel Wild Card, Peter Vail and Budjon Farms, Lomira, Wis., All American winner

Arethusa Gentry Chevelle-ET, RCD Jerseys and Ernie and Terri Packard, Boonsboro, Md., Reserve All American winner

Results from The 69th All American Jersey Show are posted on the USJersey web site at http://bit.do/AAJerseyShow21, with complete show coverage published in the January 2022 issue of the Jersey Journal.

An annual production of the American Jersey Cattle Association, the All American is held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. More than 100 Jersey breeders and enthusiasts from across the United States donate their services to planning and staging the three shows, two sales and youth awards program that make up the most exciting weekend of dairy breed promotion in the world. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact All American Coordinator Kim Billman at 614/322-4451 or info@usjersey.com.

Dairy farmers in flood-affected British Columbia are being asked to dump milk because mudslides and road washouts have made it impossible to transport

The B.C. Milk Marketing Board is advising producers in areas like Abbotsford, Chilliwack and the B.C. Interior to dispose of their milk by dumping into manure piles.

Mudslides and flooding have cut several key highways in the province.

Source: energeticcity.ca

Source: theguardian.com

The proposed rule changes should lead to commercial cultivation of GM corn

China has created a path for seed makers to get approval for genetically modified crops. Details of the planned regulatory overhaul for the seed industry were published last week by the agriculture ministry in a draft document that is open for public comment until 12 December, reported Reuters.

The proposed changes mean that a handful of recently approved GM traits developed by Chinese companies could be ready for market launch in a year.

“It’s a big step,” said Liu Shi, a vice president of Beijing Dabeinong Technology Group Co Ltd. The company already has several GM traits approved as safe and is expected to be one of the first firms to commercialise GM corn in China.

Shares of Dabeinong shares fell 6% on Monday, while those of rival Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co Ltd fell 10%.

Last year, China’s leadership called for an urgent “turnaround” in the seed industry. It has been struggling with overcapacity and rampant infringement of intellectual property that has stifled innovation.

The ministry of agriculture and rural affairs said in a statement that the changes implement decisions by the cabinet and the powerful central committee of the ruling Communist Party on safe management of genetically modified organisms and development of a modern seed industry.

Top policymakers have also urged progress in biotech breeding, or GM crops, seen as key to ensuring food security.

While it has been heavily investing in GM research and development for years, Beijing has remained cautious, barring the planting of GM soybeans or corn, despite allowing imports for use in animal feed.

Once approved, China could plant 33 million hectares with GM corn, estimated Hua’an Securities in a note last Sunday, generating up to 5 billion yuan in income, while also creating strong market leaders and driving rapid consolidation in the industry.

The proposed changes would bring China’s regulations more in line with those of other markets.

If a GM trait, also known as an ‘event’, has already been approved as safe by the agriculture ministry, it can be integrated into an already approved corn hybrid, for example, and only requires a one-year production trial to verify that the combination is still safe.

Previously, it was thought that China might require the product to once again undergo all safety trials from scratch.

“It clarifies the procedures for GMO variety approvals and simplifies the process,” said Han Gengchen, chairman of Origin Agritech Ltd, the first Chinese company to develop GM corn crops.

“It will accelerate GMO corn commercial production.”

It is still unclear when the first commercial crops would be approved.

Dabeinong is ready to start production trials now for its DBN9936 insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant corn, said Liu, and is also “bulking up” its in-bred lines to produce enough parent seed to prepare for commercial sales.

If production trials are completed by the end of 2022 and approval granted, Dabeinong could start small-scale commercial sales in spring 2023.

It is unclear if Beijing would recognise previous field demonstration trials done by Dabeinong and allow approval earlier, said Liu.

Hangzhou Ruifeng Biotech Co Ltd, in which Yuan Longping owns a 41.8% stake, also has an insect-resistant, herbicide-tolerant GM event approved as safe by China.

Source: Reuters

Farmers in southern British Columbia are coming together to save livestock as parts of the Fraser Valley remain under water from devastating flooding, says a member of the association that represents the province’s dairy farmers.

Source: moosejawtoday.com

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of $20.2 million in the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives

DBI awarded $18.4 million to three current Initiatives at University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency for Food and Marketing and University of Wisconsin, and $1.8 million to the California State University Fresno.

Since its inception in 2019, DBI initiatives have assisted dairy farmers and dairy businesses in business plan development, marketing and branding, and increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques. The overall goal is to support the development of value-added products.

“These awards will expand the scope of the Dairy Business Innovation program and provide much-needed support to small dairy farms and businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Moffitt.

“In addition to initiatives in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest, a new initiative for the Pacific Coast is funded, led by California State University Fresno,” she added. “These DBI initiatives provide the dairy industry with additional capacity and expertise that will go beyond immediate assistance and set the stage for a more secure future.”

Source: thedairysite.com