Fabio Da Silva, an operations manager for five Culverden dairy farms has been stuck in Japan since leaving for a 10-day skiing trip just before the New Zealand border was closed.

Fabio Da Silva was running five Canterbury dairy farms and was on a work-to-residency track when an ill-timed skiing holiday to Japan, just before the border closed, cut that short.

He was still there, after his employer Tim Delaney had his sixth visa application for Da Silva turned down on what his immigration adviser said was a technicality. The application to renew his visa was meant to be made by August, but overseas processing was closed and he could not apply.

“His work to residency visa has run out and he’s not in the country to apply for the residency and so now he’s got nothing. [Immigration] keep saying he doesn’t meet the criteria but I can’t see how it’s possible. We pay him over $100,000, he’s worked here for 10 years and he’s the only person I know that can run five farms,” Delaney said.

Delaney said he was still paying Da Silva in the hope that he could get him back, and because Da Silva did not want to return to his native Brazil due to the high rates of Covid-19 there.

“He’s basically our family member. He stays in our house when we go away and he’s the only guy I trust to do that.”

Delaney said he was at breaking point trying to keep the farms running and had lost two junior staff recently who he had been unable to replace. They left because they were too stretched, he said.

Earlier this week the Government announced there would be 500 spaces in Managed Isolation and Quarantine Facilities for groups of highly skilled workers, but the dairy sector was excluded, upsetting farmers who felt their pleas to the Government to help fill about 2000 vacancies had fallen on deaf ears.

A request by industry groups for a class border exception for the dairy sector, which had highlighted the extent of the labour shortage, was turned down by the Government only days earlier.

Federated Farmers employment and immigration spokesman Chris Lewis said the lobby group was “deeply disappointed” the sector had not been included in the most recent exceptions.

It was hoped the Government would have tried to avoid the impact of the labour shortage in horticulture, in the lead up to peak dairy calving.

The situation some farming families were now in was leading to stress, health and wellbeing issues, he said.

The sentiment was echoed by Dairy NZ chief executive, Tim Mackle, who said the decision had let farmers down.

While the industry would continue to work on longer term recruitment drives, workers who had applied for residency needed their applications fast-tracked, as there were concerns they might look to other countries for employment, he said.

Delaney said he was under “too much pressure” and it had taken a toll on his marriage. Getting Da Silva back would “fix everything”.

“I just don’t have enough time to spend with my family.”

Ben De’Ath, managing director at immigration consultancy, The Regions, said Delaney’s case reflected the labour shortage in the dairy sector.

Culverden is located between two earthquake stricken areas, Christchurch and Kaikoura, which had subsequently experienced a labour drain.

That Immigration was not convinced that Da Silva could not be replaced by a local highlighted the absurdity of the Government’s expectations, he said.

It was in areas with low populations that dairy farmers were most in need, and it was those farmers who were willing to pay for MIQ beds.

Senior decisions makers were poorly informed or incompetent to suggest that a worker worth $100,000 on the open market could be found locally, let alone in North Canterbury De’Ath said.

“You couldn’t find them five minutes from Hamilton city in the Waikato.”

The suggestion by Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor that the sector had not done enough to attract workers was not accurate, De’Ath said.

Dairy NZ had set up an online recruitment programme and had collaborated with the Ministry for Social Development. Only the in-person training courses had been ditched due to a lack of interest.

A spokesman for O’Connor said farmers could apply for individual workers to come in under the ‘other critical workers’ category. About 10 per cent of MIQ capacity was allocated for economic-related movements through the border.

De’Ath has launched a petition on Wednesday asking the O’Connor to consider 50 MIQ beds, or 1.25 per cent of beds, for the dairy sector a fortnight in the next two months leading up to calving. Employers would pay for the beds as well as the median wage from the time the worker arrived.

Dairy exports made up 28 per cent of export commodities and the sector wanted “1 per cent worth of love”, he said.

A lesson in farming comes with a whole new meaning for students across the state. A new program, Adopt-A-Cow is connecting local dairy farmers like Heather Jauquet to classrooms.

Nurturing new born calves is one of the highlights of Jauquet job on her family owned dairy farm, Synergy Dairy. Petting her newest addition, a small brown calf who she has yet to be named. Every morning she makes sure the calves are healthy.

“Checking that is going to tell me if I have a good day or a bad day,” says Jauquet.

She helps care for more than 1,000 dairy cows and now her daily tasks have become part of lesson planning for Wisconsin teachers, all while students virtually adopt a calf.

“We would love nothing more than for every child to have the opportunity to come to be here with us,” she says, “but we know in today’s world that’s not necessarily possible for all students.”

So that’s why every step in the calf’s life is recorded through pictures, videos and updates, all sent to teachers like Kaila Fitzl who teaches 4th graders at Loyal Elementary in Clark County.

This is the second year joining Adopt-A-Cow for Ms. Fitzl. She keeps her students updated with their calf by posting pictures on a bulletin board dedicated to this program.

“Up on the left hand side I have our calf form last year, which was Terry, and on the right hand side I have this year’s calf,” says Fitzl as she points to a bulletin board. “Then we just have our birth certificate from the calf and everything on the board and a little project we made through the program.”

Adopt-A-Cow, launched by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and Discover Dairy has reach well over 1,500 classrooms. Students can check in weekly to see how their class “pet” is doing.

“We drive past [farms] every day, but actually stepping foot in the barn, many [students] haven’t,” says Fitzl. “So it fits perfectly into 4th grade social studies because we learn all about Wisconsin, so this is a way to dig deeper into the whole dairy industry that we already learn about.”

Back on the farm, Seroogy is the seven-month-old calf Fitzl’s fourth graders look after. She’s the subject in focus to bring awareness of the importance of farmers in our state.

“Most of the questions we get from the kids are, ‘Is she happy?’ ‘Is she healthy?’ ‘Is she eating well?’ ‘Is she growing?’ All those kinds of things and it’s really all of those things that are important to us,” says farmer Jauquet.

Organizers hope to keep expanding the program next year to reach even more classrooms.

Source: spectrumnews1.com

The Pennsylvania Dairy and Allied Industries Association board of directors is pleased to announce that plans are moving forward to host the 2021 All-American Dairy Show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa. This year’s show is scheduled to run from September 18-22, with the Premier National Junior Show set for September 18-20.

“We are excited to able to host the 2021 All-American Dairy Show at our home facility, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center,” said Board President Michelle Cornman. “After a productive meeting with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the staff at the complex, we are confidently moving ahead with planning our show.”

To accommodate all state and federal guidelines related to COVID-19, the show and youth contests will operate under a modified schedule. Additionally, because of necessary space requirements, the All-American Dairy Show will not be able to host the Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show during show week.

Cornman added, “We are prepared to meet required guidelines and, most importantly, are looking forward to getting back to the business of promoting agriculture, exhibiting top-quality cattle, and providing the best possible learning experiences for our youth exhibitors.”

Please follow the All-American Dairy Show Facebook page and allamericandairyshow.com for up-to-date information and details regarding the 2021 show.

For more information, contact the show office at 717.787.2905, or email aads@pa.gov.

On April 30, 2021, Lactanet released the voting results from 28 Resolutions submitted from dairy producers across the country. The on-line voting process captured well-over 1100+ votes, giving all licensed Canadian dairy farmers the opportunity to have a voice and shape the future of dairy.

“We are very excited to have released the on-line resolutions process with such success,” mentions Neil Petreny, CEO, Lactanet Canada. “The number of resolutions received was above our expectations and our chat forum and voter engagement was impressive.”

“In order for the future generation to have access to well-governed organizations where they will be heard, I will make it a point to participate in the Lactanet National Resolution Program,” stated Benoît Turmel, Les Fermes Turmel Inc., Sainte-Marie, Québec.

The Resolutions program and on-line website were launched in March 2021. The initiative is designed to encourage producers to share ideas, connect in the on-line chat forum and vote on non-binding resolutions. Carried resolutions now rest with the Lactanet Board of Directors that will consider the ‘next steps and action plan’ during the summer months.

Lactanet and its Board would like to extend a sincere thank-you to everyone who participated in the process. Perspective, opinions, and knowledge sharing stimulates best practices and collective evolution. The voice of Canadian dairy farmers is vital as a guiding light to the development of valuable tools, services and products for a thriving dairy industry.

Visit HERE to learn more
View voting results HERE.

About Lactanet Canada  

Lactanet is Canada’s leading dairy herd improvement organization responsible for milk recording, genetic evaluations, knowledge transfer and dairy cattle traceability. As a farmer-run organization serving 8,000+ Canadian dairy producers, Lactanet provides the dairy industry with products and services to help manage their dairy operation for maximum efficiency and profitability.

Le résultat des votes est compilé!

Le 30 avril 2021, Lactanet a publié le résultat des votes sur 28 résolutions soumises par des producteurs laitiers dans l’ensemble du pays. Le processus de vote en ligne a permis de recueillir plus de 1100 votes, donnant à tous les producteurs laitiers canadiens accrédités l’occasion d’exprimer leur opinion et de façonner l’avenir de l’industrie laitière.

« Nous sommes très heureux d’avoir lancé le processus de résolutions en ligne avec autant de succès, » déclare Neil Petreny, chef de la direction de Lactanet Canada. « Le nombre de résolutions reçues a dépassé nos attentes, et notre forum de discussion et l’engagement des participants ont été impressionnants. »

« Afin que la génération future ait accès à des organisations bien gouvernées où elle sera écoutée, je me ferai un devoir de participer au programme national de résolutions de Lactanet, » a affirmé Benoît Turmel, Les Fermes Turmel Inc., Sainte-Marie, Québec.

Le programme de résolutions et le site en ligne ont été lancés en mars 2021. L’initiative vise à encourager les producteurs à partager leurs idées, à se joindre au forum de discussion en ligne et à voter sur les résolutions non contraignantes. Il incombe maintenant au conseil d’administration de Lactanet d’étudier les résolutions adoptées et de définir « les prochaines étapes et le plan d’action » au cours de l’été.

Lactanet et son conseil d’administration aimeraient remercier sincèrement tous ceux et celles qui ont participé au processus. Les points de vue, les opinions et le partage de connaissances stimulent les meilleures pratiques et l’évolution collective. La voix des producteurs laitiers canadiens est essentielle en ce qu’elle sert de guide à l’élaboration d’outils, de services et de produits de qualité favorisant une industrie laitière prospère.

Consultez https://lactanetresolutions.ca/?lang=fr pour en apprendre davantage et voir le résultat des votes : https://lactanetresolutions.ca/vote/?lang=fr

À propos de Lactanet Canada   

Lactanet est la principale entreprise vouée à l’amélioration des troupeaux laitiers responsable du contrôle laitier, de l’évaluation génétique, du transfert du savoir et de la traçabilité des bovins laitiers. En tant qu’entreprise administrée par des agriculteurs desservant plus de 8 000 producteurs laitiers canadiens, Lactanet leur offre des produits et des services qui les aident à gérer leur entreprise laitière de manière efficace et rentable.

Britain said on 12 May it would ban the live export of animals for slaughter and fattening, explore prohibiting the sale of foie gras and formally recognize animals as sentient beings as part of a post-Brexit welfare plan.

Reuters reports that the government said it would strengthen standards as it gains greater powers since leaving the European Union and will introduce the new “Animal Sentience Bill” to parliament on 13 May.

Other measures include the compulsory microchipping of cats, tackling puppy smuggling and establishing a taskforce to crack down on theft as the pandemic saw thieves steal pets to extract money as some locked-down Britons sought animal companionship.

Additional proposals include looking into a ban on the importing of hunting trophies from endangered animals, ending the import and export of detached shark fins and boosting the welfare of farm animals as they are transported.

Measures to protect farm animals include:

• ending the export of live animals for fattening and slaughter
• introducing new measures to improve welfare during transport
• giving the police more powers to protect farm animals from dangerous or out of control dogs
• examining the use of cages for poultry and farrowing crates for pigs
• improving animal welfare at slaughter incentivising farmers to improve animal health and welfare through future farming policy

“We are a nation of animal lovers and were the first country in the world to pass animal welfare laws,” said environment minister George Eustice.

“As an independent nation we are now able to go further than ever to build on our excellent track record.”

Click here to read the full Action Plan for Animal Welfare.

Source: Reuters

The Holstein Foundation is delighted to reintroduce the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI) after a year hiatus with a new location and refreshed agenda. Applications for YDLI Class 12 are due August 1, 2021 and can be found at www.holsteinfoundation.org.

YDLI is the cornerstone program of the Holstein Foundation. The nationally recognized leadership and communication skills development program is open to young adults ages 22 to 45 working in the dairy industry.

After postponing YDLI for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holstein Foundation created a task force to evaluate all aspects the program as if they were starting with a blank state. The minor but relevant changes made to YDLI ensure it will remain a top-notch dairy leadership program long into the future. Several core components that have made YDLI a success for the past 25 years will remain.

“This next class of YDLI could be the best one yet. If you’re even thinking about applying for this class, you should,” said Josh Hushon, Holstein Foundation board of trustees chairman. “Over the past year, we’ve revamped the curriculum to better prepare the future leaders of the dairy industry. This next group will be the first to benefit from that work and I am confident they will.”

YDLI’s three-phase approach will reflect updates to the course content and schedule. Phase I is the first face to face meeting February 15-18, 2022. Phase II is a series of self-driven projects completed in the participants’ home communities. Phase III is a second in-person meeting one year later, February 14-17, 2023. YDLI Class 12 will also have a new location in Fort Worth, Texas, meeting at a hotel in the heart of the famed Stockyards area.

The Phase I and III will focus heavily on interpersonal communication skills, and topics like team culture, influence, enabling change, and embracing diversity. Phase II will be individually customized with projects and timeline to achieve personal goals and include virtual meetings and reports. Phase III builds on the skills learned over the first two phases and is planned to include a hard-hitting hot industry topics session.

YDLI seeks to attract the brightest and most engaged young adults in the industry and boasts over 600 alumni since the program’s inception in 1993. By October 1, top tier applicants will be selected for the class from across North America, diverse in their backgrounds and roles within the industry. English-speaking international applicants are considered.

If selected as a YDLI class member, participants will need to invest the time required to complete projects. Class members pay a registration fee, and their travel and hotel costs. Some scholarships are available for full-time dairy producers that apply. The majority of the program is funded by the Holstein Foundation, thanks to several generous sponsors. To learn more about costs or sponsorship opportunities, as well as find the YDLI application, visit the Holstein Foundation website. With questions, contact Jodi Hoynoski at jhoynoski@holstein.com.

The Holstein Foundation’s education, leadership development and outreach programs serve both youth and young adults across the country who are involved with all breeds of dairy cattle.

The Holstein Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1989. It is headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, and shares office space with its parent organization, Holstein Association USA, Inc.

Ken Elliott of Marshall, Wisconsin became the 18th recipient of the Honorary Klussendorf Award on Friday, April 30 during the Midwest National Spring Jersey and Red & White Shows held in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Considered the highest recognition bestowed on a dairy cattle showman in the United States, the Honorary Klussendorf Award mirrors the attributes of the Klussendorf Award and is presented in special recognition of a recipient’s involvement in the purebred dairy industry.

For the past two decades, Elliott has served as superintendent of the International Holstein Show at World Dairy Expo® and eight years as WDE Assistant Overall Superintendent. Elliott’s tenure as an Expo leader includes working with prominent dairymen such as W. Terry Howard, Bob Kaiser, Jim Crowley Jr., and Dave Bollig.

A 1978 graduate from the University of Guelph and its Ridgetown College, Elliott got his start working for Paperman Farm in nearby Woodstock, Ontario, Canada and then Doug Wingrove’s Allangrove Farm in rural Guelph. Next, the young Canadian headed stateside to California’s Pacific Coast where he worked for Marvin Nunes at Ocean View Farms, Windsor, California. Elliott and his wife, Kathy, eventually moved their young family to their own farm in Wisconsin.

As a farmer and breeder, Elliott excelled in his role as Holstein Superintendent at WDE. His connections with exhibitors spread across North America making him an asset to World Dairy Expo and throughout the stalling process at the annual event.

“Ken Elliott was a master at [stalling cattle and exhibitors],” shares former Expo Red & White Superintendent Bill Langel. “He knows everyone from coast to coast.”

Named in memory of Arthur Klussendorf, the Klussendorf Association first presented its namesake trophy in 1937. Most recently, the award presentation has occurred on the colored shavings at World Dairy Expo each fall. While the Klussendorf Association plans to meet this fall, the 27 living members cast a unanimous vote earlier this month to honor Elliott this spring.

Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, World Dairy Expo brings together the latest in dairy innovation and the best cattle in North America. Crowds of 60,000 people, from nearly 100 countries, will return to Madison, Wis. for the 54^th event, September 28 – October 2, 2021, when the world’s largest dairy-focused trade show, dairy and forage seminars, a world-class dairy cattle show and more will be on display. Download the World Dairy Expo mobile event app, visit World Dairy Expo. or follow WDE on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Spotify, Instagram or YouTube for more information. 

The trend of fewer but larger farms continues in Switzerland with the biggest growth in the poultry sector, according to latest statistics.

This content was published on May 11, 2021 – 13:04

The number of farms across the country fell by 1.3% to 49,363 in 2020, while the total area of farmland stayed almost the same, said the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Tuesday.

At 21.15 hectares, the average size of a Swiss farm has almost doubled in the past 30 years.

Last year, the majority of land was used as natural or grazing fields (604,600 hectares, or 58% of the total), while crops were grown on 38%, vines cultivated on 1.3%, and fruits on 0.7%.

Dairy cows and dairy farmers decreased, by 1.5% and 2.6% respectively, with pork farmers also dropping slightly. Poultry on the other hand is on the increase, with the number of laying hens especially increasing by 10%.

Just under 150,000 people worked on Swiss farms in 2020: over half of them part-time, and three-quarters of them as part of a family holding. It’s not clear how the pandemic affected the agricultural market, although also on Tuesday, the Caritas association launched a nationwide appeal External linkfor voluntary workers to help out on Swiss farms in mountain regions throughout the summer.

Organic growth

As for the number of farmers operating organically (as defined by the 1997 federal ordinanceExternal link on organic farming), this also continued to increase last year, by 3.8% to a total of 7,561 farms – around 15% of the total.

Agriculture, and organic farming, will be the underlying topic of two national votes on June 13 next, when Swiss citizens will decide on a pair of people’s initiatives demanding an end to the use of synthetic pesticides in the country.

Source: swissinfo.ch

The Allegany County Industrial Development Agency wants to take the land and compensate the owner to make way for a $500 million cheese manufacturing plant.

“They tried to purchase it. We did not want to sell it. The price that we offered reflected that, but then eventually they began the eminent domain process,” according to Mallards Dairy managing member Charlie Bares.

“I did not expect it. I didn’t even know that eminent domain could be used for that.”

The land isn’t connected to the dairy but is only about 15 miles southeast, down I-86 in the town of Belmont. Bares says it plays a key role in supplying tons of alfalfa every year for his herd, plus he believes untouched farmland like it is disappearing too fast.

As of November of 2020, Great Lakes Cheese had annual revenues of $3.3 billion, over 3,000 employees and, according to Forbes magazine, is the 139th largest private company in the United States.

Their existing plant in Cuba, which makes mozzarella and provolone under the name Empire Cheese, is smaller than the one they’re hoping to build on Bares’ property.

Production at the new facility would also require double the amount of milk and would go from 2 million to 4 million pounds a day.

Like any large company, Clark says they play a key role in the county, so there is pressure to keep them in the Southern Tier. But he added that Great Lakes Cheese also expressed a desire to stay in the area.

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“That’s rare, you don’t usually see so much care for keeping existing employees,” Clark said.

The ACIDA has approved around $200 million in tax incentives, which will be divvied out over 20 years.

In New York State, local governments have the right to take private property as long as it’s deemed for a public purpose. If there is a disagreement, the landowner can file a petition and the case heads to court.

That’s the step in the process Mallards Dairy Inc. and Marsh Acres LLC., the landholding company co-owned by Bares and his partner Joe Strzelec, are at right now.

“The only thing I can say is that the IDA sees [eminent domain] as a last chance opportunity to help this project along, it’s not something we took lightly,” Craig Clark said.

Added Bares: “They are aiding a private business and meanwhile they’re hurting our business and ironically we’re both in the milk business.”

Despite emails and calls made by 2 On Your Side as far back as April 24, Great Lakes Cheese has not responded to requests for comment or an interview.

Documents on the ACIDA website explain that the company looked at eighty initial sites, which were whittled down to four. But according to Clark and the ACIDA, the only one that was “technically and economically feasible” was Marsh Acres.

Clark added that Bares’ idea that the ACIDA was taking from one company to help another was …

“I guess that’s his opinion, that’s all I’ll say, because I think what we’re trying to do is making sure we benefit the full county, and I think at the end of the day, we’ll all find out that everyone benefits including Charlie,” he said.

Clark is hoping that a deal will be made between Great Lakes Cheese and the team at Mallards Dairy, although how much was previously offered has not been made public.

Bares added: “I don’t think our chances are good, nope, but it doesn’t make it right. What they’re doing isn’t right, and I will stand up for it, as long as I can.”

Source: WGRZ

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Biden administration officials on 6 May took their first step toward carrying out the president’s campaign pledge to conserve 30% of American land and water over the next decade, outlining six categories for how it should be used.

Reuters reports that the “America the Beautiful” report by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory calls on the administration to back locally led conservation projects across the country with investments and focused policies.

“The President’s challenge is a call to action to support locally led conservation and restoration efforts of all kinds and all over America, wherever communities wish to safeguard the lands and waters they know and love,” the officials wrote in a report to President Joe Biden’s National Climate Taskforce.

In one of his first executive orders, Biden set a goal to protect 30% of land and water to safeguard sensitive lands and wildlife from extraction and development by 2030. He directed Cabinet members to draft recommendations for carrying this out after his first 100 days in office.

The report does not offer specifics about which areas could be set aside for conservation or whether they would be protected from productive use or resource extraction.

It outlines six priority areas of focus for the government for land that could ultimately get federal protection or investment.

This includes: creating more parks and green space in “nature-deprived communities,” outdoor recreation access, preserving fish and wildlife habitats and corridors, incentivizing voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers, and forest owners; supporting tribally led conservation efforts; and investing in resilience and restoration projects, including a Civilian Climate Corps.

The report also calls for a new interagency working group to develop a conservation “atlas,” which would establish a baseline of information on lands and waters that have already been conserved or restored to be able to track progress toward the 2030 goal.

Republican lawmakers oppose the so-called “30×30” goal. At an event this week, Republicans on the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources said they were concerned that the government could designate strict protections on some land that remained “productive.”

Democratic lawmakers praised the report and the change in direction from the Trump administration, which sought to open up more federal land and water for drilling, mining, grazing and other activities.

“The days of looking across the great American landscape and seaboards and seeing nothing but fossil fuel profits are over,” said US Representative Raul Grijalva, chairman of the natural resources committee.

Read more about this initiative on the USDA website.

Source: Reuters

The Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society is excited to unveil its new Embryo Expansion Program in an effort to make high-quality Milking Shorthorn genetics available to interested producers across Canada.

In this program, Canadian dairy producers will be invited to apply to the CMSS for an opportunity to purchase high-calibre Milking Shorthorn embryos sourced from leading herds at a subsidized cost.  In the first year of the program, three producers will be selected (one producer each from Ontario, Quebec, and the rest of Canada) to purchase a group of four embryos at a subsidized price of $250/embryo direct from the Society.  In addition, these successful applicants will also receive a free membership to the Society and 5 doses of semen on a CMSS Syndicates/Semex sire.

Successful applicants will be chosen based on criteria including participation in breed improvement programs and interest in the Milking Shorthorn breed.  Preference will be given to producers that do not currently have Milking Shorthorn cattle or that are very new to the breed.

According to CMSS President John Eccles, “the Embryo Expansion Program provides a unique opportunity for dairy producers who are interested in the Milking Shorthorn breed but unsure of where to start in terms of accessing high quality genetics.  I want to thank CMSS Director William Roy-Dubuc for sparking the idea to develop this program.  William is a relatively new Milking Shorthorn breeder and had a great idea to develop a program to encourage breed expansion.”

Application forms are now available on the Society website.  The deadline for entries is July 1st, 2021 and can be submitted to the CMSS office at milking.shorthorn@gmail.com.  For more information on this program, please contact Ryan Barrett, Secretary-Manager of the Canadian Milking Shorthorn Society.

La Société Canadienne de Shorthorn Laitier lance un programme d’expansion des embryons

(Kensington, PE – 5 mai 2021) La Société Canadienne de Shorthorn Laitier est ravie de dévoiler son nouveau programme d’expansion d’embryons dans le but de mettre à la disposition des producteurs intéressés du Canada des génétiques de Shorthorn Laitier de haute qualité.

Dans le cadre de ce programme, les producteurs laitiers canadiens seront invités à présenter une demande à la Société pour avoir la possibilité d’acheter des embryons de Shorthorn Laitier de haut calibre provenant de troupeaux de premier plan à un coût subventionné. Au cours de la première année du programme, trois producteurs seront sélectionnés (un producteur chacun de l’Ontario, du Québec et du reste du Canada) pour acheter un groupe de quatre embryons à un prix subventionné de 250 $ / embryon directement de la Société. De plus, ces candidats retenus recevront également une adhésion gratuite à la Société et 5 doses de semence sur un taureau CMSS Syndicates / Semex.

Les candidats retenus seront choisis en fonction de critères tels que la participation à des programmes d’amélioration de la race et l’intérêt pour la race Shorthorn Laitier. La préférence sera donnée aux producteurs qui n’ont pas actuellement de bovins Shorthorns Laitier ou qui sont très nouveaux dans la race.

Selon le président de la Société, John Eccles, « le programme d’expansion des embryons offre une opportunité unique aux producteurs laitiers qui s’intéressent à la race Shorthorn Laitier mais ne savent pas par où commencer pour accéder à des génétiques de haute qualité. Je tiens à remercier le directeur de la SCSL, William Roy-Dubuc, d’avoir suscité l’idée de développer ce programme. William est un éleveur relativement nouveau et a eu une excellente idée de développer un programme pour encourager l’expansion de la race. »

Les formulaires de demande sont maintenant disponibles sur le site Web de la Société à www.milkingshorthorn.ca. La date limite pour les inscriptions est le 1er juillet 2021 et peut être soumise au bureau de la SCSL à milking.shorthorn@gmail.com. Pour plus d’informations sur ce programme, veuillez contacter Ryan Barrett, secrétaire-gérant de la Société Canadienne de Shorthorn Laitier.

The pace of U.S. COVID-19 vaccinations has been one of the top stories in the country the past few weeks. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) notes with more and more people taking part in this vaccination process, it’s allowing the economy to build again and in the case of dairy, getting people into restaurants, keeping schools open for nutritious school lunches, and reviving outlets for dairy-farmer products that have been hampered by pandemic-era life.

But in rural areas where many lives are naturally socially distanced, human interactions are fewer and access to health care facilities and educational materials may not be as readily available. That’s where dairy farms and their cooperatives come in. Dairy farmers are leaders in their communities, as well as significant employers. They’re also usually part of a cooperative, which has expertise and resources that can be applied in many areas, including public health. They’re no stranger to shots – people who work with cows knew the word “coronavirus” for decades before it became socially distanced coffee shop conversation, and they know how to organize a vaccination effort.

The dairy industry has emerged as a key part of outreach to medically underserved rural areas, making sure those regions have a fair chance to overcome COVID-19. To see a sampling of grassroots efforts in the dairy community to keep America safe and get it moving again, go to the NMPF website.

A dairy farmer in Wisconsin who is physically disabled has sued the Biden administration over a COVID relief program that excludes white farmers, arguing the program is racist.

Adam Faust, who runs a herd of 140 Holsteins on his family farm in Chilton, joined other plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed last week in Green Bay, alleging the loan forgiveness program illegally discriminates against them.

At issue is a $4 billion program tucked into the Biden administration’s COVID-19 stimulus plan that forgives loans for farmers and ranchers who are black, native American, Hispanic, or Asian — but not those who are white.

‘It was just out and out racist, and I really don’t think that there should be racism allowed in the federal government at any level,’ Faust told WLUK-TV.

Adam Faust, who runs a herd of 140 Holsteins on his family farm in Chilton, joined other plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed last week in Green Bay

The plaintiffs allege the loan forgiveness program illegally discriminates against them

Faust was born with spina bifida, a rare birth defect, and his leg was amputated after a farm accident later in life resulted in an infection.

Last year his other leg was amputated due to complications from diabetes, and he now uses two prosthetic legs.  

On Wednesday night, Faust appeared in an interview on Fox News, and  argued that it was unfair to create racial criteria for participation in the relief program.

‘I mean, racism against anybody is wrong. We can’t have a government picking and choosing who they are going to give any program to based solely on the color of their skin,’ he said. 

‘Everything that we have all learned growing up his racism was wrong, and now, all of a sudden, the federal government seems to think that racism is acceptable in certain ways,’ he said.

Activists have hailed Biden’s stimulus plan as a means of finally helping non-white farmers, who they say have been discriminated against for years. 

Faust’s attorney Rick Esenberg joined the interview, saying ‘There is no such thing as benign discrimination. There is no such thing as a little ‘makeup discrimination’ to even things out.’

Faust was born with spina bifida, a rare birth defect, and both his legs were later amputated

Faust relies on prosthetics to work his farm, which consists of 93 owned acres and just over 400 acres of rented land

‘I mean, look, we fought a civil war. We had a lengthy civil rights movement to acknowledge the principal that was in our founding documents, that we are all to be treated as individuals, and this really disturbing mood we have about equity instead of equality of opportunity will not end well,’ said Esenberg. 

The group of plaintiffs joining the lawsuit to challenge the program includes farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Ohio. 

The suit contends that excluding white farmers from the program amounts to a violation of the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.

‘Were plaintiffs eligible for the loan forgiveness benefit, they would have the opportunity to make additional investments in their property, expand their farms, purchase equipment and supplies, and otherwise support their families and local communities,’ the lawsuit said. 

‘Because plaintiffs are ineligible to even apply for the program solely due to their race, they have been denied the equal protection of the law and therefore suffered harm.’

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a statement saying it was reviewing the lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice, but that the USDA plans to continue to offer loan forgiveness to ‘socially disadvantaged’ farmers.

Faust has grown his herd over the years, and it totals more than 140 head now

Faust bought the 93 owned acres from his father, continuing the family tradition of farming

Attorneys for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the action on the white farmers’ behalf in federal court in Green Bay.

The filing seeks a court order prohibiting the USDA from applying racial classifications when determining eligibility for loan modifications and payments under the stimulus plan. It also seeks unspecified damages.

Non-white farmers have maintained for decades that they have been unfairly denied farm loans and other government assistance.

The USDA in 1999 and 2010 settled lawsuits from black farmers accusing the agency of discriminating against them.

Less than 2 percent of direct loans from the Trump administration in 2020 went to black farmers — however, just 1.3 percent of the farmers in the country are black, according to USDA data.

Some black farmers have also criticized Biden’s Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for failing to address a backlog of discrimination complaints and failing to hire minorities for high-level positions.

Vilsack, who served under President Barack Obama and returned to the role after President Joe Biden took office, said in a statement last month that generations of socially disadvantaged farmers have suffered due to systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt. 

He has been trying to assure minority farming groups that he will work to stem racism within the USDA.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Units in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund on the NZX and ASX are in a trading halt as the company considers a capital restructure.

The dairy co-operative said it was preparing to make an announcement prior to the markets’ opening on Thursday in relation to seeking shareholder feedback on “potential options to change its capital structure”.

However, the trading halt would remain until Friday to give shareholders and unitholders time to consider the materials.

Fonterra remained “in a strong financial position and the consultation process will not affect the co-operative’s ability to operate,” the company said.

Dairy commentators were reluctant to speculate ahead of the announcement but said they were expecting something big, given the timespan of the trading halt.

“That would suggest that there’s a bit of meat in whatever they’re going to release which they feel needs to be carefully digested,” said perennial commentator Keith Woodcock.

“It’s the length of the trading halt and the fact that the trading halt is going to continue for at least 24 hours after the announcement is made that tells us this is likely to be something pretty significant.” 

Milk prices have been strong for some time, helping the company achieve a healthy annual net profit last year of $659 million, a $1.3 billion improvement on the previous year.

In March, Fonterra raised its forecast milk price for this season to between $7.30 and $7.90 per kilogram of milk solids, with a mid-point of $7.60 per kgMS. That’s up from $7.14 per kgMS last season.

Then in April Fonterra appeared to ramp up its efforts to reduce debt, selling its dairy farms in China for  $552 million, as it pulled back from global expansion.

Chief executive Miles Hurrell said last year that as profitability increased and after reducing its debt by more than $1b, it was back in a position to start paying dividends again.

Under his leadership, the cooperative – which is owned by its 10,000 farmer shareholders – has refocused on its core New Zealand milk business, selling overseas assets and underperforming plants, and reducing costs and debt to improve earnings.

Source: stuff.co.nz

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today commended Ambassador Katherine Tai and U.S. Trade Representative Office staff, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other administration partners, for reaffirming in its Special 301 Report the U.S. government’s commitment to tackling continued European Union (EU) misuse of legitimate geographical indications (GI) protections.

USTR’s Special 301 Report, an annual publication tallying global challenges pertaining to intellectual property issues, called out the EU’s policy of blocking fair competition through the pursuit of geographical indications restricting the use of common food and beverage terms, which erect barriers to trade in products relying on common food names. “As part of its trade agreement negotiations, the EU pressures trading partners to prevent all producers, other than in certain EU regions, from using certain product names, such as fontina, gorgonzola, parmesan, asiago, or feta. This is despite the fact that these terms are the common names for products produced in countries around the world.”

“USTR has accurately diagnosed the problem. Now the task before the U.S. is to take the necessary steps to effectively curb this scourge to U.S. food and agricultural producers,” said CCFN Executive Director Jaime Castaneda. “The EU’s GI policy is intentionally barring competition from a host of other suppliers that all simply seek a level playing field including small and medium-sized family-owned companies, farmer-owned cooperatives, producers in developing countries and other actors throughout the supply chain that bear the brunt of these harmful restrictions. The U.S. must build on past advances to pursue a more proactive and effective path to combating the misuse of GIs by establishing concrete market access protections for the use of widely used terms.”

“Last year over 170 members of Congress urged an expansion of the trade toolkit the U.S. deploys to deal with geographical indications that block the use of common food names,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “It’s time to put that into practice and secure affirmative protections for the key common terms on which U.S. cheesemakers and other food producers rely. We look forward to working closely with USTR to achieve those gains to keep doors around the world open to made-in-America products.”

“U.S. dairy farmers and processors are counting on the U.S. government to have their back and defend their rights to cultivate opportunities around the world,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Our industry produces great products here at home and then works hard to market them overseas. To be as successful as possible, however, they count on strong U.S. government support to head off and combat unfair trade barriers such as geographical indications that ban the use of generic cheese terms. We want to partner with USTR to help bring the right policy tools to bear to make headway on this thorny issue.”

CCFN filed extensive comments with USTR outlining GI-related developments, foreign governments’ roles in driving those policies and the impacts on U.S. farmers and food producers. NMPF and USDEC also submitted commentssupporting CCFN’s global overview and the need for a more robust U.S. trade policy approach to tackling GI abuses.

Source: NMPF

More than a month after the floods completely inundated her 200-hectare property at Oxley Island on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Debbie Polson is exhausted.

Mrs Polson is still clearing rubble and fixing fence lines while trying to keep her herd milked and healthy.

“Everyone is getting really tired and just running on adrenaline,” she said.

Dairy operations on Oxley Island were hit hard during the flood, with some areas ending up 3 metres underwater.

“We’ve got 550 acres and I would say there is a hill of about 4 acres [that was dry] and everything else was inundated.

“This whole area was just a sea of water.”

Mrs Polson said the impact of the flood was far from over.

“[Issues will arise] in six months’ time when cows aren’t in calf,” she said.

“Immediately the water receded, but the ongoing effects of the flood  are just going to keep happening.”

Volunteers bring fresh energy

The arrival of 20 volunteers from Rural Aid Australia to the area has brought a breath of fresh air to four local dairy farmers, including Mrs Polson.

“[The volunteer help] has been really good because they come with energy,” she said.

“They are a team, there is quite a lot of them, and a lot of hands make light work.”

Rural Aid volunteer group team leader Greg Dawes said the rescue effort at Oxley Island was desperately needed.

“To have a group coming from an organisation like Rural Aid just gives the farmers a lot of pep really,” he said.

“You get a group of people with a lot of energy and suddenly we’re back into helping do their infrastructure repairs.”

Mr Dawes said the state of Debbie Polson’s property was one of the worst he’d seen.

“There were huge amounts of plastic that the cows were starting to ingest so we had to move all of that.

“We’ve cleared fences, put up insulators and got the electric fences up and running again.”

Rural Aid project coordinator Grant Miskimmin said the rescue effort had been a huge success so far.

“It’s been terrible for them [Oxley Island farmers], we are just grateful that we can lend a hand and be able to help,” he said.

“A lot of them are working dairies and they had to concentrate on getting the dairy up and running again.”

Mr Miskimmin said groups of five volunteers had been helping the four major dairy operations on the island to recover.

“Each farm has a different crew, and they go out daily to work on the farm for a week,” he said.

We are delighted to announce that the Castledale herd, which is owned by Gordon and Gavin Stockdale and family of County Down, Northern Ireland, are the winners of the 2021 British Friesian Herd of the Year Award.

This new award is aimed at recognising the top performing British Friesian herd each year, based on a combination of classification and production. Breed Code 20 females, bred and owned by the member, that have finished two lactations and calved within the last two years, will be allocated points according to their performance. To qualify for the award, a herd must have a minimum of 30 females included in the calculation and must achieve at least 20% of the total points from classification. The British Friesian herd with the highest average number of points (per female included in the calculation) will then be named as Herd of the Year.

The Castledale herd is situated on the Lecale Peninsula in County Down, Northern Ireland. The Stockdale family have farmed in the area since the 1600s, however it wasn’t until the 1950’s that British Friesians were introduced onto the farm by Gordon’s father Tom. AI was used from the 1960’s onwards which really drove the herd forwards. In 1997, when Gordon’s son Gavin returned home from college, the herd was graded up to pedigree status under the Castledale prefix; classification and milk recording were also introduced. The Stockdales have always believed that the backbone of any herd is based around good cow families who will reliably breed quality stock for generations. The herd currently comprises of 150 British Friesians and includes 69 EX (including 6 EX95 and 10 EX94), 41 VG and 2 EX bulls. As of 2020, the herd was yielding 7,514 litres, 4.55 fat and 3.45 protein.

Previous achievements include:

• Twice winners of the British Friesian herds competition in the last decade.
• Top scoring mature cow in the last British Friesian herds competition, Castledale Excelsior Empress 39 (100 tonnes) EX96-10E and runner up heifer Castledale Brandy Pauline 2 (now EX93 in 3rd lactation).
• Runner up in British Friesian bull progeny competition, Castledale Odyssey.
• Castledale Excelsior Empress 39 scored EX96 one of the highest scored cows in recent years.
• Eight of the Top 20 highest classified British Friesian cows in the last three years are from the Castledale herd.

Sue Cope, Holstein UK CEO, commented: “The British Friesian Herd of the Year Award recognises the most outstanding British Friesian herd based on a combination of both classification and production. I would like to congratulate the Stockdale family on being announced as the first winners of this brand-new award. It is a fantastic achievement in recognition of their hard work and dedication to the British Friesian breed.”

Provided by Holstein UK

The chairman of a major South Korean dairy company stepped down on 4 May after police launched an investigation into the company’s assertion that its yogurt drink was effective in fighting the novel coronavirus.

Reuters reports that Namyang Dairy Product Co Ltd Chairman Hong Won-sik’s resignation came three weeks after the initial claim and its retraction. The sacking of the chief executive did little to calm a consumer backlash.

“I will resign from Namyang Dairy’s chairman position to take responsibility for all of this and I will not pass on management to my children,” Hong said in a televised public apology.

Hong and his family members have a combined stake of 53.1% of South Korea’s number-three dairy firm by revenue, according to Namyang’s regulatory filings.

Officials at Namyang Dairy could not be immediately reached for comment.

Seoul police last week raided the company’s headquarters.

The company claimed at a forum attended by reporters last month that its Bulgaris yogurt drink was effective in preventing COVID-19, sending its stock surging nearly 30%.

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety subsequently issued a statement saying that Namyang had no evidence to support its claim, and accused the company of illegally spreading misleading information.

Namyang Dairy shares were up 16.3% versus the broader KOSPI’s 0.5% decline as of 02:43 GMT.

Read more about this story here.

It won’t come as a surprise to anyone to learn that Canberra is home to some pretty incredible startups.

But one of these is actually in possession of some world-first technology that is totally unique.

Intrigued?

Parts Per Billion Technology (PPB Technology) has a piece of equipment that can accurately test for dangerous levels of substances called proteases in milk. These are proteins that actually eat other proteins*.

The piece of technology, Cybertongue, started life as a CSIRO research initiative under the direction of now founder and managing director of PPB Technology, Dr Stephen Trowell.

He’s proud of what the company has achieved since its formation in 2018.

“We are not only the sole business in the country able to offer this service, but the only business in the entire world,” says Dr Trowell.

As with many good startups, he saw the limitless potential of Cybertongue and decided to do something about it.

“I realised this technology really did have the ability to change the world for the better,” says Dr Trowell. “At the time I had the financial capacity and the desire for a new personal challenge, and so PPB Technology was born.”

Dr Trowell, a biochemist, moved to Australia from the UK to complete his PhD and ended up sticking around to have an illustrious career in the sciences.

He says the move to a privately run company has not been easy, and that it took more than 10 months to tidy up negotiations between various parties.

The CSIRO continues to play a vital role in the development of Cybertongue, and the two now separate entities do occasionally collaborate in order to run various tests.

Dr Trowell is clear that much of the work since moving from research to commercial usage has been to do with raising capital in order to convert what was essentially a lab prototype into market-ready technology.

He describes it as a bit like traversing the ‘valley of death – the process of getting something out of a lab and into commercial use. It’s here that a lot of scientific technology struggles.

Recently, PPB Technology participated in Canberra Innovation Network’s GRIFFIN Accelerator Program, where they were successful in securing a substantial amount of private investment, allowing them to take on their first paid employee.

It is a three-month intensive program with exclusive membership of only seven startups.

As well as private investment from Dr Trowell and small grants along the way, PPB Technology has also attracted several angel investors. It hopes to secure $500,000 in funding by June 2021 to allow further development of the technology and expand its commercial use.

The same technology that tests for proteases can also be used to detect levels of lactose in ‘lactose-free milk’ and generate laboratory quality results within minutes. This is a rapidly growing area, but as Dr Trowell says, there are already companies that offer this service.

That’s not to say PPB Technology does not have its sights set on that space in the future.

For now, Dr Trowell adds, the target customer remains food-processing businesses, although he says their vision is to eventually market a piece of technology that could be used by individual consumers to test their food for potential allergens, including gluten.

Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to test our food at home to see if it really is as safe to eat as we think it is.

For more information, visit PPB Technology and Canberra Innovation Network.

Source: the-riotact.com

The Nebraska State Dairy Association in partnership with other Midwestern dairy groups has announced a proposal that would increase revenue for producers in the industry.

“They understand that processors need to be profitable,” said Kris Bousquet, NSDA Executive Director. “They understand that our consumers need to have a fair price when they buy their product, but we also want to make sure our farmers get paid a fair price.”

That price of milk for dairy farmers is determined based on what it becomes, which the USDA sorts into four classes.

According to Bousquet, the pandemic caused a fluctuation in prices when the value of milk that is used to make cheese (Class III) grew stronger than that of fluid milk (Class I). He attributes this to an increase in cheese consumption because of government programs, such as the USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes.

This proposal would link Class I to Class III to create more stability and limit the chance of negative producer price differentials.

“By fixing those two prices together and having a new average, we won’t have the volatility in the milk price nearly at all,” said Bousquet. “So farmers can now look forward and contract out and say ok I trust that this price is going to be here at this time, I’m going to lock it in or make those decision based on what’s best for their farm.”

He believes there are additional benefits within this proposal that could incentivize growth of the dairy industry in Nebraska.

“Short term, it would basically increase the farmer’s pay price by $0.36 per hundred weight, which when you look at it that way, it’s not a bunch of money right away but it is substantial growth,” said Bousquet. “I can tell you one thing, a farmer isn’t going to turn down $0.36 per hundred weight, so this proposal will directly impact the Nebraska dairy farmer’s milk check and it will be for the better.”

Bosque added that if this proposal were approved, the price of milk for consumers should not increase.

My name is Nicholas Finn, and I am a 25 year old, fourth generation American dairy farmer.

Dairy farming has been and will continue to be not only my profession, but my lifestyle. It is a lifestyle that continuously stimulates creativity, strategy, spontaneity, and resourcefulness into my everyday thinking.

For a long time in my youth, I was not sure that it was the profession for me, but with each passing day I become more confident in my decision to become a part of my family’s business.

I grew up very active in the culture of our dairy farm. From a young age, I learned to feed the animals, milk cows, take care of the chickens, and a long list of other seemingly small and miscellaneous tasks. Little did I know that those tasks would teach me critical thinking that I use and continue to build upon to this day.

My favorite part about this industry is that there is truly no right and wrong way to do something. Every day I get to wear a different hat, whether it be milker, electrician, fabricator or even number cruncher. The cherry on top is that I’m able to do all of these tasks with my family. Both my mother and father are active members of the farm, as well as my sister, Stephanie.

I decided to cultivate the knowledge my family had instilled in me and receive a formal education in agriculture. I received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University in 2017. I studied courses in animal biology, chemistry, human resources, business, and agronomy. My mission through college was not only to deepen my understanding of animals and crops, but to get as much real-world prospective on the magnitude and direction of this ever-evolving industry.

I was fortunate enough to study a semester abroad in England at an agricultural university, Harper Adams, to get a feel for dairy trends in Europe also. Not only this, but I was able to immerse myself in the ways another culture views and embraces its food.

As a member of the Cornell Dairy Science Club, we went on a trip to China to study their dairy industry as they continue to be a major global influencer in dairy product pricing. After seeing a considerable amount of global agriculture, I’m honest in saying this local area constitutes a diverse and exciting sector — one that I am eager to be a part of and help thrive as a whole.

Finndale Farms LLC. was established at its current location in the rolling hills of Holland Patent in 1964 by my grandfather Harry Finn. I have been involved with the operation since my graduation from college in December 2017. We milk 980 Holstein cows, and there are approximately 800 youngstock animals that we raise on the same location to replace the dairy herd. I will leave the storytelling about our animals (and believe me she has a lot) to my sister — who you will meet in a later column.

My family has been at the core of this lifestyle from the beginning, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I think the reason it works so well is because we all have complementing skill sets. My sister is incredibly talented with animals, my mother overly proficient in accounting and financials, and my father has the overarching wisdom that keeps all of us pulling in the right direction.

For now, I’d like to focus on my involvement on the dairy farm. Many of you know that today’s dairy cow can consume a lot of feed in a day. In fact, our highest producing lactating animals can eat up to 120 pounds of feed per day! This turns into a logistical game with regards to securing enough land to grow crops that can then be converted into dairy forages and feed. My role on the farm is to manage our land, cropping operation, and equipment line to the best of my ability so that when paired together they can produce as much feed for our animals as possible.

There are a few things that are important to mention. It is not only the volume of feed that is critical— but first and foremost that the quality of the feed is high and the viability of the land is not compromised or degraded in the process. The things that most influence my job and daily decision making on the farm include the weather, technology, government regulation, labor, and market pricing. To feed our herd of cattle, the Finndale team grows roughly 1,200 acres of corn, and 1,000 acres of hay. The corn crop is used for both corn silage production, as well as grain production.

It is my hopes that through this column, I can give you some insight into the thought process and decision making that goes into managing these 2,200 acres from a dairy perspective. I hope to create a window in which you can see how things like plant biology, technology, industry support professionals, and soil nutrient management all influence the overall productivity of our land.

Perhaps you have seen a local farmer out in their field, and you were curious about what or why they were doing what they were doing. My goal is to create a bridge between us farmers and the general public, so as to explain the critical timing and rationale that dictates our actions.

In doing so, I hope you will have a better understanding of what the daily life of an American dairy farmer entails, and what it will look like in the future.

Source: romesentinel.com

Looking for quick, accurate information and visuals about modern dairy farming to easily share with consumers? American DairyENGAGED is here to help. American Dairy Association North East’s new social media resource was created to develop a dairy farming focused community to encourage meaningful engagement with consumers. Nearly 500 members strong, the page is on Facebook and can be followed on Instagram.

“American DairyENGAGED is designed for dairy farmers to efficiently and effectively share their stories,” said ADA North East CEO Rick Naczi. “We provide easily shareable, visually appealing and science-based content that will help farmers engage with consumers at any level – whether you’re a seasoned social media user, or just getting started.

“Research shows more than 50 percent of adults would ask a dairy farmer about their farming practices, if given the opportunity. American DairyENGAGED will provide the tools to help farmers make those connections,” Naczi added.

Naczi also noted it’s important for everyone to be part of the solution to better understand modern farming and how milk is produced. ADA North East is available to help but also encourages all farmers to work together to help consumers learn more.

Managed by ADA North East, American DairyENGAGED provides ready-to-share timely and relevant content, facts, stories and infographics, along with workshops and helpful tips. Monthly virtual live events include trainings, Twitter parties, and how-to’s aimed to motivate farmers to expand their engagement with consumers online.

Dairy farmer and American DairyENGAGED member Johanna Bossard of Barbland Dairy in Fabius, N.Y., said, “It’s so handy to have ready-to-go posts that I can share, and to have media resources already prepared. It’s definitely a great tool for social media use.”

While geared to dairy farmers, dairy industry professionals are also invited to join the community to help positively tell the dairy story. To join, click on this Facebook link.

–American Dairy Association North East

For more information about American DairyENGAGED, contact Kelsey O’Shea at koshea@milk4u.org.

The chairman of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board says he can now officially announced that the 2021 Wisconsin State Fair will be held in person this summer. In a statement released on Wednesday, John Yingling said the 170th exposition will take place August 5-15 in accordance with health guidelines.

“In January, the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board approved a goal to have a fair this August and we are pleased to confirm we are well on our way to meeting that goal,” Yingling said. “We are over three months away, therefore final health and safety protocols will be determined as we approach the fair dates.”

He adds that increased sanitization protocols are already in place throughout the park because of its accreditation as a GBAC Star facility.

Meanwhile, the fair office also announced this week that tickets are already being sold for entertainment acts on the main stage. And admission tickets for the fair itself will also go on sale soon.

The Wisconsin State Fair is considered to be the largest event in the state, drawing more than a million people over the course of 11 days.

Land O’Lakes Inc., one of the biggest U.S. farm cooperatives, said first-quarter profit more than tripled as the reopening of businesses lifts demand for dairy.

Net earnings surged to $136 million from $37 million a year earlier. Sales rose 4% to $3.9 billion, Land O’Lakes said in a statement Thursday.

The Minnesota-based butter and cheese maker reported gains across all business units. Land O’Lakes is reaping benefits as U.S. restaurants and schools reopen amid easing pandemic restrictions, which is bolstering the market for dairy products. At the same time, the biggest grains market rally since 2013 is prompting U.S. farmers to plant more crops, which is helping its segment that sells crop nutrients, herbicides and seed treatments.

The farmer-owned cooperative said the quarter ended March 31 was the “strongest of the past decade.”

Source: bloomberg.com

The 2021 National Holstein Convention themed “Leading the Holstein Vision,” order forms are now available online for the in-person junior and adult convention contests, activities and tours, at the Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square in Lancaster, Pa., on June 20-24. Registration deadline is May 20.

Registration and payment can be made online at www.2021nationalholsteinconvention.com, or the order form can be printed and mailed to the Pennsylvania Holstein Association office at 839 Benner Pike, State College, PA 16801. Checks should be payable to “PA Holstein Association.”

Hotel reservations can be made directly for the Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square by calling 1-866-503-3786 or online. Be sure to mention the Holstein Convention to secure the group rate.

The event schedule is available here. Events will feature the annual meeting, farm tours, general tours, and a golf outing. The national convention cattle sale caps off the event.

Junior contests will include Distinguished Junior Member, dairy bowl, speech and Dairy Jeopardy. Off-site activities are planned for the junior members, as well.

Please note that all Center for Disease Control (CDC) and state health guidelines will be followed, including wearing masks at all events as required by the Marriott Lancaster.

For more detailed information about the convention, contact the Pennsylvania Holstein Association at 814.234.0364.

The sharemarket fell, weighed down by weakness in The a2 Milk Company as investors offloaded their holdings on expectations the specialty dairy company will downgrade its earnings guidance.

The benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index slipped 0.24 per cent, or 30.115 points, to 12,620.52 on Tuesday.

A2 Milk dropped 5.6 per cent to $7.46, its lowest level in about four years. The dairy company has already cut its earnings guidance several times after the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures disrupted sales, as fewer tourists and international students shipped its products to China.

The stock has declined 13 per cent so far this month after several analysts downgraded their outlook for the company, and investors were offloading the stock, said Peter McIntyre, an investment adviser at Craigs Investment Partners.

“Investors are waiting for another earnings downgrade and are trying to sell before that happens,” McIntyre said. “It’s shown considerable weakness. It’s had a terrible day.

“The selling pressure has remained consistent and gained some momentum.”

In a substantial shareholder notice on the NZX, institutional investor Mitsubishi and related entities disclosed they had reduced their holding to 7.5 per cent from 8.5 per cent.

Electricity generator and retailer Meridian Energy fell 3.5 per cent to $5.49.

Investors were concerned Meridian’s low water storage levels may force the company to buy electricity off rivals, crimping margins, McIntyre said.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, the largest stock on the market, gained 2 per cent to $35.48, taking its gain so far this month to 11 per cent.

The company’s breathing respirators have been in hot demand during the pandemic and a rise in the number of people with the virus in India and elsewhere was benefiting the stock, McIntyre said.

NZX, which operates the New Zealand stock exchange, advanced 2.4 per cent to $2.10 after it reported first-quarter revenue rose 13 per cent to $21 million as total equity trades jumped 83 per cent.

Elsewhere, technology companies helped lift stocks modestly higher on Wall Street on Monday, nudging the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes to all-time highs.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2 per cent, with only slightly more than half the companies in the index notching gains. Banks and companies that rely on consumer spending were among the winners, outweighing a pullback in household goods makers and health care stocks, among others.

A rally in technology companies, which powered much of the market’s gains in 2020, helped push the Nasdaq to its first record high since Feb. 12. The index fell more than 10 per cent from that peak by March 8, what is known on Wall Street as a “correction”. With Monday’s gain, the Nasdaq has recouped all of its losses from that March slide.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed slightly lower, while small company stocks outpaced the broader market, a sign investors are feeling confident about the economy. Treasury yields were broadly higher.

In a National Milk Producers Federation podcast, USDEC’s president and CEO discusses the future of exports and why it matters for farmers. 

The milk from one out of six tankers leaving American dairy farms now ends up in dairy products and ingredients sold overseas.

With U.S. dairy farmers in a good position to meet growing global dairy demand, the future of exports could get even more exciting, according to U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Krysta Harden in this week’s “Dairy Defined” podcast. 

“I think we have great products,” Harden said on the podcast, produced by the National Milk Producers Federation.

“I think our farmers are the most productive in the world. They’re ready to meet the challenges of the world. And there’s a great demand for what we produce. And so we’ve got to be there, we’ve got to be in those markets, we’ve got to be building trust, building our reputation, building our image.”  

Listen to the full podcast here.

Dairy Farmers of Canada welcomes with great interest the ‘Grocery Supply Code of Practice for Canada’ proposed by Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) and Empire Company Limited. If adopted, a code of conduct of this nature would bring greater balance to supplier-retailer relationships, improve competition in the grocery retail environment, and foster greater collaboration throughout the food supply chain.

In recent years, some retailers have increased pressure on suppliers by imposing arbitrary and unreasonably harsh fees and penalties and making unilateral changes to supply agreements. If left unchecked, these practices could hamper product innovation, reduce product variety, and generate unnecessary costs, with a negative impact on dairy farmers, processors, independent grocers and consumers alike.

Countries such as Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom have already recognized the benefits of adopting such codes of conduct, which promote transparency, predictability and openness in the food supply chain.

Dairy Farmers of Canada is supportive of this kind of proposal and expresses its desire to participate in any future consultations on this issue.

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

The state of Wisconsin has reached a settlement agreement with Wild Rose Dairy, K&D Manure Handling and Kevin Hintz that would require them to pay $242,000 in a case connected to pollution in Vernon and La Crosse counties.

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the agreement Monday. It was approved in La Crosse County Circuit Court April 19 and Vernon County  Circuit Court April 21.

“Spills like these harm Wisconsin’s waterways and fish that swim in them,” said Kaul. “Those who contaminate our clean water must be held accountable.”

The settlement resolves violations connected to three manure spills that harmed high-quality trout streams in Otter Creek in Vernon County and Bostwick Creek in La Crosse County. It includes $126,000 in total to be paid to the Department of Natural Resources for the trout killed by the manure spills and lost fishing.

Wild Rose Dairy operates a concentrated animal feeding operation near La Farge. K & D Manure Handling is a custom manure applicator, which Hintz owns and operates, out of Sparta. K & D Manure Handling land spreads manure for Wild Rose Dairy, and smaller dairy farms.

The settlement comes from allegations that Wild Rose Dairy and K&D Manure Handling spilled manure in Otter Creek in October 2017 and again in May 2019. The dairy failed to report the 2017 spill in a timely manner and did not renew its Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for five years.

K&D and Hintz are also alleged to have caused a manure spill in Bostwick Creek in June 2019, didn’t report it to the DNR and did not take any action to contain or clean up the spill.

The state alleged that Hintz told DNR conservation wardens that he knew manure had reached a tributary to Bostwick Creek, and that he did not report the manure spill to DNR because he hoped nothing would come of it. DNR was notified of the fish kill in Bostwick Creek by an anonymous public tip.

The agreement requires Wild Rose Dairy to pay $57,000 in forfeitures, surcharges, court costs, and attorney fees. The agreement requires K & D Manure Handling and Mr. Hintz to pay $185,000 in total in forfeitures, surcharges, court costs, DNR costs, and attorney fees. This includes $126,000 for the fish killed by the three manure spills.

Source: news8000.com

A person can weed about one acre of crops a day. This smart robot can weed 20.

Carbon Robotics has unveiled the third-generation of its Autonomous Weeder, a smart farming robot that identifies weeds and then destroys them with high-power lasers.

The weedkiller challenge: Weeds compete with plants for space, sunlight, and soil nutrients. They can also make it easier for insect pests to harm crops, so weed control is a top concern for farmers.

Chemical herbicides can kill the pesky plants, but they can also contaminate water and affect soil health. Weeds can be pulled out by hand, but it’s unpleasant work, and labor shortages are already a huge problem in the agriculture industry.

“It’s harder to find people to do that work every single year,” vegetable farmer Shay Myers told the Seattle Times.

The Autonomous Weeder kills weeds without harming soil or water, and it operates autonomously, eliminating the reliance on manual laborers.

How it works: The farming robot looks like a large cube on wheels.

As it drives itself down rows of crops, its 12 cameras scan the ground. An onboard computer, powered by AI, identifies weeds, and the robot’s carbon dioxide lasers then zap and kill the plants.

The Autonomous Weeder can eliminate more than 100,000 weeds per hour and weed 15 to 20 acres of crops in one day — for comparison, Myers said a laborer can weed about one acre of his onions per day.

Big money machine: Myers expects the farming robot to pay for itself in two to three years, but it does come with a hefty price tag: Carbon Robotics’ CEO Paul Mikesell told the Seattle Times it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars (he declined to provide an exact price).

That’s not an unheard of price range for agriculture equipment, but it could still put the robot out of reach for many farmers, though leasing options are available.

Even farmers who can afford to buy the robot might not be able to get their hands on one for some time — Carbon Robotics has already sold out of the bots it had available for 2021 delivery.

Happy customers: Those who have managed to get their hands on the farming robot appear pleased with its performance, though.

“This is one of the most innovative and valuable technologies that I’ve seen as a farmer,” James Johnson of New Mexico’s Carzalia Farm said in a press release.

“I expect the robots to go mainstream because of how effectively they address some of farming’s most critical issues, including the overuse of chemicals, process efficiency, and labor,” he added.

Source: FreeThink