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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the enchanting pursuit of delivering joy and gifts to every corner of the globe in a single night, none other than the spirited old St. Nick takes center stage! According to The Dairy Alliance, it’s estimated that approximately 300 million children across 86 million homes worldwide celebrate Christmas. The secret to championing his energy and hydration throughout the night – dairy milk!

The Dairy Alliance shares Santa Claus drinks about 86 million glasses or 688 million ounces of dairy milk. So, why does he choose this delicious and creamy beverage to make it through the night?

Dairy milk benefits individuals across all ages by providing 13 essential nutrients that support energy, wellness, and strong bones. With 8 grams of complete protein per 8-ounce serving, including options like chocolate milk, Santa’s favorite beverage serves as an effective means for individuals to replenish energy, build muscle, and enjoy high-quality protein.

“Dairy milk is a nutritional powerhouse. Just as Santa relies on the wholesome benefits of dairy milk for sustained energy during his worldwide journey, families and athletes can turn to this nutrient-dense drink as a vital source of calcium, potassium, and high-quality protein,” said Geri Berdak, Chief Executive Officer at The Dairy Alliance. “Much like Santa, we champion the importance dairy milk brings to our health and wellness.”

The vital nutrients in real dairy milk play a crucial role in maintaining Santa’s bone strength, enabling him to effortlessly carry his sack of toys down chimneys and endure the high speeds of his sleigh. The Dairy Alliance encourages consumers to support Santa’s resilience throughout the night with a generous glass of dairy milk alongside his cookies.

For more information about The Dairy Alliance, visit https://thedairyalliance.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram @TheDairyAlliance.

About The Dairy Alliance
The Dairy Alliance is a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast. We work diligently with dairy farmers, schools, sports teams, health professionals, local organizations, state leaders, the media, and the public to promote dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry. Our efforts center in eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FrieslandCampina, a Dutch dairy cooperative, said on Tuesday that it will lose 1,800 positions globally over the next two years in order to lower costs and enhance profitability.

FrieslandCampina said that the job losses will result in savings of up to 200 million euros ($215 million), as part of a target to reduce yearly expenditures by 400 million to 500 million euros beginning in 2026.

FrieslandCampina is one of the world’s biggest dairy cooperatives, supplying milk, cheese, infant formula, and ingredients for the culinary and pharmaceutical sectors in over 100 countries. It employs around 22,000 people in 30 countries and anticipates a revenue of 14 billion euros in 2022.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The United States House of Representatives unanimously supported legislation to repeal a school nutrition program regulation and reinstate whole milk in schools. The Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn GT Thompson’s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids bill failed to pass on Tuesday but succeeded decisively on Wednesday by a 330-99 vote.

According to Paul Bleiberg of the National Milk Producers Federation, members of Congress paid heed to current scientific findings. “Dairy is under consumed, especially among school aged children and really should be consumed at higher rates, and given that problem, and that understanding that there was a recognition on both sides of the isle, that this bill was the right thing to do to fix that.”

During floor discussion, Dr. John Joyce of Pennsylvania said that a published fifteen-year research demonstrates that whole milk is beneficial to individuals of all ages. “People who eat more than two dairy products per day have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.” There is a decreased morbidity linked with people who consume whole milk and whole milk products.”

According to Dr. Joyce, prohibiting nutritious milk products from schools has caused pupils to abandon milk and dairy products in favor of highly caffeinated and sugary beverages with little nutritional value.

The House measure was amended to allow organic milk, to restrict Chinese-made dairy products from being sold in schools, and to bar the USDA from creating regulations that would prohibit flavored milks from being sold in school meal programs.

The measure now proceeds to the United States Senate, where Bleiberg said a counterpart bill sponsored by Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas and Democrat Peter Welch of Vermont must first pass via the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Farming groups are responding positively to the House decision.

The American Farm Bureau Federation said in a statement, “”AFBF applauds the House for approving the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023 to guarantee schools may provide extra nutritional milk alternatives to children.” According to an AFBF letter to Congress, milk is a crucial building block for America’s children, yet nearly 9 out of 10 youngsters do not consume enough dairy to satisfy their nutritional requirements. Unfortunately, whole and 2% milk are not permitted in school lunch programs, restricting children’s access to protein, calcium, and vitamins during critical stages of development. We urge the Senate to promptly follow the House’s example in advocating for healthy school lunch alternatives for America’s youth.”

According to Walt Moore of the American Dairy Coalition, “”we are thrilled to see the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass in the House of Representatives.” As farmers, we provide a healthy product from which our children should be allowed to pick. We appreciate Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson for his dedication to the objective of allowing children to select whole milk at school and allowing schools to provide this healthful option without fear of losing federal food and education money. Fuller fat milk and dairy are a fantastic source of important nutrients and other health advantages, according to scientific studies. While natural milkfat assists in vitamin absorption, it also adds taste to the table, allowing kids to appreciate and benefit from everything that milk has to offer.”

“IDFA applauds the strong bipartisan passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the United States House of Representatives,” said International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes. This law will reintroduce to schools a broad range of milk alternatives that children would drink and that match their specific requirements, such as whole and 2% milks, low-fat milks, and lactose-free milks. Whole milk and low-fat milk both supply 13 necessary elements to children for growth, development, immunological function, and general health. Offering these alternatives enhances school lunch attendance, minimizes food waste, and delivers nutritionally beneficial school meals for children and adolescents, according to the vast majority of parents and medical and nutrition specialists. IDFA thanks Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Rep. Kim Schrier, and the many other politicians who have long championed the campaign to reintroduce a complete range of healthy milk alternatives in school meals. We urgently encourage the Senate to approve this bill.”

According to FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative General Manager Jeff Lyon, ”

“FarmFirst applauds the passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 1147) today, a bipartisan bill that expands healthy milk options for children in schools.” FarmFirst has long advocated for more dairy alternatives in schools. This measure would overturn existing laws that limit milk alternatives to low-fat and fat-free. The return of whole milk in school cafeterias will not only benefit children’s health by providing a diverse range of milk alternatives in schools, but it will also stimulate demand for milk, therefore helping dairy producers. FarmFirst will continue to campaign for legislation that promotes healthy eating and the health of the dairy sector.”

“Milk is an essential part of a balanced diet, especially for our growing children,” Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President Brody Stapel says. “The nutritional benefits of milk for school-age children have been demonstrated time and again, and providing more options encourages consumption of nutrient-dense milk.” Thank you to Representatives GT Thompson and Kim Schrier for their persistent support and leadership in ensuring that higher-fat dairy products are recognized as healthy alternatives, particularly for school nutrition programs. We encourage the Senate to consider their companion measure as soon as possible.”

“I’m delighted to see this change, which is backed by the most rigorous science showing that regular dairy is the healthiest for growing children,” says Nina Teicholz, Founder of The Nutrition Coalition. This rule is a rare example of excellent science triumphing against special interests in nutrition.”

The author of the measure, Glenn GT Thompson, states, “I am pleased to see my bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass out of the United States House of Representatives, and I ultimately look forward to restoring access to these nutritious beverages in schools across the country.”

The U.S. economy has remained remarkably steady despite an unrelenting series of shocks over the last three years. America’s economic resilience was again on display throughout 2023, as the Federal Reserve continued the most aggressive round of interest rate hikes the country has seen in more than 40 years. Steadfast consumer spending has fueled the economy through much of the recent adversity. However, lingering high prices are expected to take a bigger toll on the economy in 2024, according to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.

“By conventional measures, the U.S. economy is doing quite well,” said Rob Fox, director of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange. “But consumers are increasingly feeling the pinch of higher prices for food, housing and other essential goods. People have anchored mental expectations about what prices should be and those anchors take a long time to move. Consumers are beginning to realize some prices aren’t going back to where they were three years ago and changing their purchasing behaviors to reduce spending. That will create stronger headwinds for the U.S. economy in 2024.”

The CoBank 2024 outlook report examines several key factors that will shape agriculture and market sectors that serve rural communities throughout the U.S.

Read the full report, The Year Ahead: Forces That Will Shape the U.S. Rural Economy in 2024.

About CoBank

CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.

CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today recognized six individuals whose leadership in food, nutrition and agricultural policymaking has helped to support the U.S. dairy industry. At the annual Celebration of Dairy event held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., recognized the following officials with the IDFA Leadership Award: U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan; U.S. Reps. John Moolenaar of Michigan and Dan Newhouse of Washington; and Under Secretary Alexis Taylor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The IDFA Leadership Award is given annually to members of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government who have shown outstanding leadership in support of U.S. dairy policy priorities. The event recognizing the lawmakers and policymakers was held on Wednesday, Dec. 6, on Capitol Hill.

“On behalf of our members across the dairy supply chain, it is my honor to recognize these six outstanding officials with the IDFA Leadership Award for their important contributions to a healthy, vibrant U.S. dairy industry,” said Dykes. “From ensuring dairy products are recognized and incentivized for their important nutritional benefits, to building collaboration between federal agencies and the dairy industry to support innovative growth, the work done by these officials supports millions of good-paying jobs making nutritious, sustainable dairy foods. We are grateful to dedicated public servants who advance dairy’s benefits to consumers here and around the world. IDFA and our members are so pleased to honor these individuals for their tremendous work on behalf of U.S. dairy.”  

The recipients are:

• U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin)
• U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kansas)
• U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
• U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (R-Michigan)
• U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse (R-Washington)
• Hon. Alexis Taylor, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, USDA

The Celebration of Dairy welcomed members of Congress as well as key congressional staff, officials from the Biden Administration, ambassadors and representatives from trading partner countries, and leaders from throughout the food and agriculture industry. The Celebration of Dairy, IDFA’s annual holiday reception, also showcased an array of gourmet cheeses, eggnog, ice cream products, and butter boards from IDFA member companies, including BelGioioso Cheese, Inc., Emmi Roth USA, Grande Cheese Company, Great Lakes Cheese Co., Inc., Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., HP Hood LLC, The Ice Cream Club, Inc., Lactalis USA, Saputo Dairy Division USA, Sartori Company, Schuman Cheese, Tillamook County Creamery Association, and Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc.

IDFA donated additional dairy products to the Father McKenna Center, an independent 501(c) in Washington’s Ward 6 serving those struggling with homelessness and food insecurity.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3.2 million jobs that generate $49 billion in direct wages and $794 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.

On Thursday (Dec 7), Japan’s space industry started a potentially udder-ly new chapter with a start-up testing a prototype rocket engine that operates only on fuel generated entirely from an abundant local source: cow poo.

For around 10 seconds, the engine sent a blue-and-orange flame 10-15 meters (30-50 feet) horizontally out of an open hangar door in the remote northern town of Taiki, Hokkaido.

According to Interstellar Technologies CEO Takahiro Inagawa, the liquid “biomethane” needed was created solely from gas obtained from cow excrement from two nearby dairy farms. “We are doing this not just because it is good for the environment but because it can be produced locally, it is very cost effective, and it is a fuel with high performance and high purity,” Inagawa said.

“I do not think it is an exaggeration to assume this will be replicated …all over the world,” he was quoted as saying. “We are the first private business to do this.” Interstellar has joined up with industrial gas supplier Air Water in the goal of utilizing the fuel to launch satellites into space. It collaborates with local farmers who have equipment on their fields that converts cow manure into biogas, which Air Water gathers and converts into rocket fuel.

Resource-poor According to Tomohiro Nishikawa, an engineer at Air Water, Japan “must secure domestically produced, carbon-neutral energy now.” “The raw material derived from this region’s cows has enormous potential.” Should anything happen in international relations, it is critical that Japan has an energy supply on hand,” he stressed.

JAXA, Japan’s space agency, launched its “Moon Sniper” mission in September, but the sector has been beset by issues in recent years, with two unsuccessful missions — one public and one private. Japan has also had problems with its launch rockets, with disasters following the launch of the next-generation H3 in March and the generally dependable solid-fuel Epsilon in October. In July, an Epsilon S rocket, an enhanced variant of the Epsilon, exploded 50 seconds after ignition.

Biogas made from cow dung is already being utilized as a fuel source across the globe, notably to power buses in the Indian city of Indore rather from more polluting conventional sources. It also helps to reduce agriculture’s environmental impact.

Air Water’s biomethane is already being utilized as a pilot program by a local dairy and other enterprises, to heat local homes, and to power vehicles and ships.

Eiji Mizushita, 58, is one of the participating local farmers. He has 900 milk cows that produce about 40 tons (80,000 pounds) of manure every day. His farm includes an industrial system that collects garbage mechanically, ferments it, and converts it into biogas, fertilizer, and regenerated bedding materials for his animals. Mizushita’s income increases by only 1% as a result of biogas sales, but he believes the effort is worthwhile.

“I’m very excited to think that our cow waste could be used to make it fly,” he remarked of the rocket. “We must properly dispose of and utilize manure.” I also believe that the government and society should give natural renewable energy a higher priority and stimulate its creation.”