KENTUCKY
September - October 2015 w w w. k y d a i r y. o r g
Milk Matters Dairy Farm Tours Showcase Sound Management Practices Find out more on page 6
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California Federal Order Could Have Broad Consequences By Jim Dickrell, Dairy Today Editor
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ecause it produces 20% of the nation’s milk, California’s hiccups make the rest of the country queasy. So when hearings began Sept. 22 on four Federal Order proposals for the Golden State, there was almost as much interest nationally as there was within state borders. There was even a forum in a suburb of Minneapolis Sept. 24 to look at impacts in the Midwest. [Also dairy groups in TN, GA, VA and KY researching possible impact on SE] USDA ratcheted up anxiety levels by releasing a 45-page econometric analysis of the four proposals over the summer. The analysis not only looks at their impact on California, it also projects what will happen nationally in each Federal Order and on imports and exports. A summary of USDA’s estimates on the effect on the all-milk prices for two (of the four) proposals are shown in the table at right. The first is the co-op proposal, submitted by California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Land O’Lakes (LOL). The second is the processors’ proposal, submitted by the Dairy Institute of California. Prices would change because higher milk prices in California mean higher milk production. USDA estimates the higher California milk prices under the co-op proposal could bring an additional 540 million pounds to market, on average, over the 10 years of the analysis (2017 to 2024). Some take issue with this logic, noting the three major co-ops in the state, CDI, DFA and LOL, all have base plans in place. These three co-ops market 80% of the state’s milk, so the base plans would keep a lid on production. That’s true—to a point. California produced 42 billion pounds of milk this past year. Its monthly year-over-year production has been down roughly 3% in 2015, which is about 1.25 billion pounds on an annual basis. (California is down 650 million pounds of milk through
the first six months of 2015.) So California producers could increase milk production 540 million pounds and not even make up their production losses this year. On a per cow basis, that’s just 300 lb. more milk per year—or 1 lb. per cow per day in a 305-day lactation. All of this is speculative: • The economic model USDA used to do this analysis is brand new. Independent economists have not yet had the chance to see “what the model is and isn’t,” says Mark Stephenson, a dairy economist with the University of Wisconsin. “Some of the impacts seem awfully large.” • No one knows what the final proposal will look like. USDA must first hold the hearing, then decide if a Federal Order makes sense for the state and, if it does, what provisions should be included based only on evidence and testimony from the hearing. It could take a year for USDA to issue a proposed rule and another year to implement if approved by California dairy farmers.
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
2015 KDDC Board of Directors & Staff Executive Committee President: Richard Sparrow Vice President: Charles Townsend, DVM Sec./Treasurer: Tom Hastings EC Member: Tony Cowherd EC Past President: Bob Klingenfus
Board of Directors District 1: Lesa Elliot Clark 270.210.3743 District 2: Josh Duvall 270.535.6533 District 3: Don Kinslow 270.646.0086 District 4: William Crist Sr. 270.590.3185 District 5: Tony Cowherd 270.469.0398 District 6: Todd Burgess 270.427.6403 District 7: Larry Baxter 859.612.2738 District 8: Jerry Gentry 606-875-2526 District 9: Robert List 606.748.2944 District 10: Richard Sparrow 502.370.6730 District 11: Bill Mattingly 270.699.1701 District 12: Larry Embry 270.259.6903 Equipment: Eric Risser 423.368.7753 Milk Haulers: Alan Wilson 606.875.7281 Genetics: Dan Johnson 502.905.8221 Feed: Tom Hastings 270.748.9652 Nutrition: Dr. Ron Wendlandt 502.839.4222 Dairy Co-op: Fabian Bernal 859.351.0610 Veterinary: Dr. Charles Townsend 270.726.4041 Finance: Michael Smith Former Pres.: Bob Klingenfus 502.817.3165
Employee & Consultants Executive Director: Maury Cox 859.516.1129 DC-Central: Beth Cox 859.516.1619 DC-Western: Dave Roberts 859.516.1409 DC-Southern: Meredith Scales 859.516.1966 DC -Northern: Jennifer Hickerson 859.516.2458
KDDC 176 Pasadena Drive Lexington, KY 40503 www.kydairy.org KY Milk Matters produced by Carey Brown
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 2
President’s Corner Richard Sparrow
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s I write this column I am pulling a load of cattle across Oklahoma and I am sure glad that I live in Kentucky. Last year I wrote about some things that I love about the dairy business and in the interest of fairness today I am writing about a couple of things that I do not like about milking cows. Flies top my list. When I was a little boy my Sunday school teacher told us that all of God creatures have a purpose. Well I am convinced that a flies purpose is to torment me. Have you ever been in a tractor cab with only one fly biting at your ankle? Mastitis is a close second on my list. It is not just the cost of the treatment or the loss of milk. But the long term price of this inflammation that bothers me most. Mastitis has no preference to genetics, bloodlines,
or ability to produce milk. This item on my list will go unnamed for fear of retribution. Let’s just say I had a friend whose career path was a tobacco grader, then an Internal Revenue Service auditor and finally a milk inspector. If my column lacks quality this time I will blame the 13 hour trucking trip that I just finished. I will try to do better next time.
Your Input Is Needed
Most are aware of what The Kentucky Dairy Development Council mission statement is “To educate, promote and represent dairy producers and foster an environment for growth of the Kentucky Dairy Industry.” What better way to do this than listening to the producers! We are dedicated to helping dairy producers in any way that is possible and continually strive to better our services to you. That’s why we are seeking input for your newsletter. What would YOU like to see covered in each issue. Your input and opinions are a valuable resource to us and we would enjoy hearing from you. Please take a minute to share with us what you would like to see included in the newsletter. Responses can be sent to KDDC at 859-516-2458 or email @ kddc@kydairy.org
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KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Executive Director Comments Maury Cox
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ow! Anymore there never seems to be a brief time to slow down or catch your breath. In agriculture and especially as it relates to dairy farming there is always a lot going on and plenty to do. Without a doubt the major issue I’m hearing from dairy producers everywhere can be summed up by a statement often repeated by KDDC Director, dairy farmer and equipment business owner Tony Cowherd. Tony laments he keeps running out of money before running out of month. As anyone who knows Tony would agree the statement is meant to be humorous but unfortunately the reality is not. Dairy prices continue to be a roller-coaster ride and it seems just as a theme park advertiser promotes their latest and greatest roller coaster as going higher and falling faster, today’s milk prices do the same. The Dixie Dairy Report by Calvin Covington in this publication provides some insights to the markets, especially in the Southeast and how things are looking down the road.
Milk Prices and Insurance Program:
The Dairy – Market Protection Program sign-up has been extended by USDA Secretary Vilsack till November 20, 2015. Farmers who already enrolled for 2016 margin coverage may also change coverage levels up until the new deadline. More information on the program can be found at the link below: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/Dairy-MPP/index
Federal Milk Marketing Order Proposal:
Proposals were recently submitted to establish a Federal Milk Marketing Order for the state of California. The original proposal was submitted on behalf of California Dairies, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America and Land O’ Lakes, Inc. Three others were submitted in response to the Cooperatives’ proposals. Why is this important to KY and the Southeast U.S. milk market? Please see the article by Jim Dickrell, this issue: California Federal Order Could Have Broad Consequences. The KDDC reached out to Tennessee Dairy Producers, Georgia Milk Producers and North Carolina dairy farmers to partner in retaining Daniel Smith, Attorney, and to submit a brief and provide testimony from Everett Williams and Richard Sparrow, Presidents of GA Milk Producers and the KY Dairy Development Council respectively during the hearing. The group has taken no position at this time until all points are considered, but felt Southeast Dairy Farmers should be represented.
Animal Care:
Self-proclaimed and mislabeled “animal rights” groups continue to push their anti-livestock farming agenda. A recent video released by PETA at a farm in Texas is another example. While every dairy farmer I know is about doing the best job they can at caring for their livestock, one must always be on guard for someone they’ve hired who purposely abuses an animal for the publicity.
Antibiotic Residues:
As reported by Lisa Baertlein, Reuters October 12, 2015 in Dairy Herd Management Online:
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 4
California Governor Jerry Brown on Saturday signed a bill that sets the strictest government standards in the United States for the use of antibiotics in livestock production. The move from California, known for its leadership on public health and environmental issues, comes amid growing concern that the overuse of such drugs is contributing to rising numbers of lifethreatening human infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as “superbugs.”
Upcoming KDDC Plans:
The KDDC is in the process of addressing issues regarding nutrient management and antibiotic residues found in dairy animals through educational meetings beginning early 2016. Working with NRCS, industry stakeholders and the UK College of Agriculture we hope to provide dairy farmers with the resources to protect themselves from environmental challenges. Secondly we are planning to collaborate with the KY Cattlemen’s Association and the National FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program or equivalent program to hold working sessions, field-days and meetings to address dairy’s challenges on two fronts. First, we will work to increase the overall quality of dairy beef by learning about medications, withdrawal times and shot site selections. The USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, (APHIS) recently reported that beef from dairy animals contributes between 8 to 16 percent of all beef but is responsible for nearly 85 percent of all antibiotic residues. We have a problem and we need to address it. Secondly, proper animal care is essential to profitability. This includes education when hiring people that may be involved in the care of your animals. It is important to properly screen applicants and look for signals and signs of potential problems that could arise in how well your employees provide the proper care for your animals. As I said, there is always something to do when it comes to dairy farming. At the KDDC we continue to strive to do our best every day to fulfill the KDDC Mission: To educate, promote and represent dairy farmers and foster an environment of growth for the KY dairy industry.
July-August Dairy Protection Program MilkFeed Margin $7.70/cwt From AgWeb.com With the release of final feed and all-milk prices for August, the United States Department of Agriculture announced this week that the final dairy margin for July and August was $7.70/ cwt. That means those producers who signed up for $8 margin insurance will receive an indemnity payment of 30¢/cwt for covered production. The Dairy Margin Protection Program margin was below $8/ cwt in every two-month period in 2015 thus far, though the MayJune margin was just barely under at $7.99534/cwt. The latest payment is based on an all-milk price that averaged $16.65/cwt in July and August, and feed costs that averaged $8.95/ cwt.
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KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Dairy Farm Tours Showcase Sound Management Practices By Donna M. Amaral-Phillips, Extension Professor and Dairy Nutritionist, University of KY
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ver the past several months, I have had the opportunity to participate in several out-of-state dairy farmer tours and farm visits with students. These farm tours have allowed me to visit dairy farms in New York, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Like my farm visits with KY farmers, I always learn from these discussions and tours of the dairy facilities and cows. It is always reassuring to see several management practices we have discussed in KY newsletters and articles incorporated successfully on farms. I would like to share with you what I learned and noticed from these farmer’s discussions and from observing their cows, heifers and facilities.
Milking Cows
Many of the Holstein herds we visited averaged over 80 lbs of m i l k . Two of the herds we visited averaged over 30,000 lbs of milk with daily averages for the herd of 100 and 105 lbs of milk. Somatic cell counts were low for all herds. Superior genetics provided through the use of AI was the cornerstone of all these operations. Barns were designed with cow comfort in mind no matter if they were naturally or cross ventilated. All farms looked at ways to decrease heat stress on cows through the use of fans and sprinklers. Stalls were often bedded with sand with mechanical sand separation practiced to recover 95% of the sand used. Most herds had one member of the family dedicated to managing the cattle and another responsible for crops. Communication between family members or managers is critical and was very evident in these herds. All herds were fed total mixed rations balanced routinely by a nutritionist. On the best managed farms, the feed in the feed bunk was very uniform with feed pushed up on a regular schedule. If dry hay was incorporated into the mix, length of processed hay was extremely uniform and no more than the width of a cow’s muzzle. Most farms were using either a kernel processor or shredlage for corn silage. When looking at the TMR from the herd with shredlage, it looked identical to herds using a kernel processor properly adjusted for kernel and corn cob breakage. My guess
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 6
was that kernel processing scores would have been 70% or higher at harvest for these herds. Thus, achieving optimum kernel and cob processing. For the larger herds, trucks hauling the harvested forage stopped on a truck scale and a receipt was printed showing the truck weight before unloading and again once unloading the chopped silage. This practice resulted in each truck load of feed being weighed and thus allowing farms to calculate forage yields and storage and feeding losses or shrink. For the herds in Wisconsin, each herd was asked if they knew dry matter intakes for the average cow in their herd. The top two herds averaging over 30,000 lbs of milk, without any thought, could tell the farmer group the average dry matter intake for the cows. For the 33,000 lb herd, the milking cows averaged 62 lbs of dry matter- those cows could eat!!
Transition Cow Management
On the top producing herds, management of dry cows and fresh cows was a priority. Dry cows were managed as two separate groups, far-off and close-up. Often times, both groups of dry cows, but especially the closeup cows, were housed in a barn with fans for heat abatement and targeted feeding programs. Dry cows were fed diets that matched their nutritional needs and contained straw chopped to 2 inch pieces to prevent sorting, maintain rumen fill, and regulate energy intakes. Although the protocols varied between farms, these farms had a separate group for fresh cows and protocols in place at calving time and shortly after calving to detect health issues early and get these cows off to a good start. Farms that had staff on hand 24 hrs daily, moved cows into a clean, well-bedded straw pen when a calf ’s feet appeared during the calving process. Newborn calves were removed from the dam shortly after calving to another clean, well bedded pen and transported to the calf raising facility. One farm had a chute, gate system, and portable milking unit to milk cows shortly after calving so that calves would receive colostrum within 30 minutes of birth. Close to this chute was a bench which contained various supplies needed to process newborn calves and their recently fresh dams.
Management of Heifer Replacements
A common goal for most of the farms we visited was to calve heifers into the milking herd an average of 22 months of age. These herds measured their average daily gain on their heifers at various ages, which averaged 2.0 to 2.1 lbs/day. On one farm, we saw the first-calf heifers going to the holding pen to be milked and could read their birth dates in their eartags. These first-calf heifers were definitely of the proper skeletal and body weight to
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
be productive cows at this earlier age!!! Newborn calves were hand-fed 4 quarts of colostrum shortly after birth. If calves did not drink, they were tubed with an esophageal feeder. One herd had a protocol in place to hand feed 4 quarts of fresh colostrum within 30 minutes of birth and another 2 quarts within the first 6 hours of life. Serum protein was measured in these heifer calves and averaged 7.0 g/dl which is higher than the cut off of 5.5 to 6.0 g/dl of total protein goal for adequate passive immunity in calves. Calves were raised in either calf hutches or in barns with automatic calf feeders. For those feeding whole waste milk to calves in either hutches or automatic calf feeders, it was first pasteurized before feeding and then fed at rates greater than 2 gallons per day. During the weaning process, calves were stepped down in the amount of milk fed. After weaning, if calves were housed in hutches they were grouped in small groups of less than 8 calves. One potential stressor was changed at a time, such as housing, type of grain mix, or grouping, and calves given time to adjust before another potential stressor was changed. All farms had heifer facilities that allow them to easily feed and manage heifers in groups.
Dairy Farmers are Resilient
As all of us are aware, the dairy industry has its good times and those that are not always as good, be it related to milk/feed prices
or just challenges presented by weather or other factors. The one thing that makes me proud to be associated with this industry, is the ability of its owners, managers and employees to make the most of the cards dealt and continue to make changes that better their operations. This positive attitude was really illustrated during a visit to a New York dairy herd that had the roof collapse in the milking cow barn because of an excessive snow build-up. This catastrophe occurred 6 weeks before the students and my visit. Other than the open skylight in the roof in the center of the barn (the roof was not repaired), you would not have known anything had occurred. The owners and their employees cleaned up and hosted the event like nothing had happened. They were dedicated and determined for their farm to continue its normal operation and to make sure the students had an excellent learning experience. I admire them and other dairy farm families I have seen over my career, pick up the pieces and make the best of the cards they are dealt. I truly enjoy the time I spend visiting with dairy farmers and touring their operations, not only out-of-state but also in Kentucky. During these visits, I always learn a piece of information, be it a new way of incorporating a management practice or that it just works on farm. Hopefully, the management practices I have talked about in this article can help those who could not attend these tours see how others manage their cows and heifers.
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KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Southland Dairy Farmers: Working to Promote the Good Brand of Kentucky’s Dairy Farm Families October 15, 2015
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outhland Dairy Farmers is a dairy education and promotional checkoff program consisting of dairy farmers from Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia. As dairy producers, we believe there are educational, compelling messages about our industry that should be in front of the public – and too often, are not. These messages are not only about dairy products, nutrition, and stewardship; they are about the dairy industry in general and the dairy farm families that work hard to make “Milk. A part of everything that’s good.” That is certainly a “brand” worth promoting in Kentucky. From sponsorships to advertising, from public interaction initiatives to social media, Southland Dairy Farmers promotes direct, local messages about Kentucky Dairy Farmers. Our function is dynamic, and as we like to say, we “grow and go”. That means we are flexible in our programs and revise as necessary. From years of experience, we know our business model allows our dairy farmers to always be out in front of new issues and consumer trends, and helps us maximize our marketing dollars. It also means that we can be more responsive to our members and the mission-critical needs of
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local, individual markets. Southland Dairy Farmers recognizes that education means a more informed consumer; one who can make better choices. Our education activities are a major focus for us, and it starts in the schools. The Mobile Dairy Classroom is a traveling, fully-operational milking parlor, featuring a live cow. Trained instructors demonstrate how cows are milked using a modern milking process, and describe how milk goes from the farm to the consumer. They also discuss the importance of dairy foods in a healthy diet, emphasize the modern environmental and food safety practices on the dairy farm, and answer questions about the dairy farm. The Mobile Dairy Classroom is based out of central Kentucky, covering the entire state and is operated by instructor Michaela Sanders. If you would like to reserve the Mobile
Below: Michaela Sanders presenting at the Kentucky State Fair. Dairy Classroom for a school or another event, please go to www.southlanddairyfarmers.com . To date, the Southland Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy Classroom has visited fifty schools throughout the state of Kentucky, delivering a direct dairy message to over 20,000 kids, parents, and teachers. We have an additional 23 schools scheduled from now until Thanksgiving. In addition, at the Kentucky State Fair alone, we made 84 milking presentations and addressed over 10,000 people at the event. In just seven months, Southland Dairy Farmers has directly touched more than 32,000 people in the state of Kentucky with its Mobile Dairy Classroom program. Out-of-home messages remain a strong thrust of our advertising program. Relevant and impactful outdoor boards are strategically located throughout the Southland states, and speak directly to mobile audiences in a way that is uncommon for any producer group. Tanker trucks that move milk from farm to processing plants act as moving billboards, and our designed graphics wrap the sides of the tanks to provide promotional and educational messages. Southland Dairy Farmers also promotes the dairy industry via public-interaction initiatives in many, and various, venues.
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund Overall, we work with athletic departments at nine major universities throughout the year to provide fan bags and dairy-specific information to college fans at football and basketball games, at other athletic venues and at community outreach events. In Kentucky, we passed out insulated Western-Kentucky logoed cooler bags that promoted the nutritional value of dairy products. Our sponsorships at state and county fairs, community events, and festivals allow us to tell our story through exhibits, dairy product giveaways, milking demonstrations, and information booths. We are also major sponsors at events for organizations such as Kentucky Special Olympics and the Susan Komen Foundation, among others. Here, we promote dairy products and enhance the image of the dairy industry in the communities in which we live. To address consumer concerns and misinformation about our industry, Southland Dairy Farmers developed The Ag Conservancy, a public relations initiative that is pro-active in its contact with media outlets and consumer groups to dispel erroneous information and to disseminate positive, straight-talk facts about the industry and dairy farmers. In addition to our more traditional marketing efforts, Southland Dairy Farmers has launched efforts on various digital platforms providing the opportunity to reach some of the 265 billion Internet users in the United States – all at the click of a mouse. From Google AdWords campaigns featuring banner ads, to targeted social media efforts with our celebrity Chef Kitchen Kimberley, digital advertising gives us the ability to strategically place specific dairy messages, recipes, and other consumer-interactive applications in the state of Kentucky.
Above: WKU Mascot, Big Red, with Michaela Sanders and Jett at Western Kentucky University. These are but a few of the ways Southland Dairy Farmers work for Kentucky’s dairy farmers and how we support our dairy farmer members with their checkoff dollars. If you would like to support these efforts with your local promotional checkoff dollars or if you need more information about our organization, please contact our office or visit southlanddairyfarmers.com. We’re in Kentucky to help make Milk a Part of Everything That’s Good.
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 9
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Dixie Dairy Report By Calvin Covington
October 2015
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ittle change projected in 2016 blend prices compared to this year. Currently, we see little on the horizon that will significantly change next year’s blend prices compared to this year. We see milk production increases slowing which, hopefully, will offset some of the decline in exports. Plus, we are optimistic that domestic sales will continue to improve. However, a major change in milk supply and/or demand, especially export sales, can easily cause these projections to be higher or lower.
USDA 2016 forecast lower. Even though we project 2016 blend prices at almost the same level as 2015, USDA projects prices slightly lower next year. USDA’s most recent report projects a 2015 all-milk price of
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 10
$16.90/cwt. and the 2016 all-milk price at $16.60/cwt. which is thirty cents lower. Milk production increases slowing. August milk production was only 0.8% higher than last August. Cow numbers remained steady in August compared to the previous month, but still about 53,000 head more than a year ago. August milk produced per cow was only five (5) lbs. higher than a year ago. Milk production in the nation’s number one milk producing state, California, continues to decline with August production down 3.4%. On the other hand, in the number two state, Wisconsin, production continues to grow with 4.8% more milk produced this August compared to last August. In the southeast, production in Florida was up 1.6%, and down 1.4% in Virginia, the only two southeast states with monthly milk production data. Volatility at the CME. During the first 25 days of September the CME butter price increased almost 33%
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Milk Prices FMMO 5
www.malouisville.com September 2015 Class I Advanced Price (@ 3.5% BF) $19.74 October 2015 Class I Advanced Price (@ 3.5% BF) $19.24
FMMO 7
to set a record of $3.135/lb. Then in just a week butter gave up almost all of its gain to close at $2.50/lb. on October 2. My take – emotion and uncertainty caused the spike in price. Then when buyers saw there was more than an ample supply of butter, prices declined. Block cheddar saw some volatility in September as well, with block cheddar at the CME starting the month at $1.75/lb. then dropping to $1.59/lb. before rebounding back to the current $1.745/lb. We look for “sideways” trading in both butter and cheese over the next few weeks. Powder continues to advance. CME nonfat dry milk powder has increased $0.20/lb. from the beginning of September. The September AMS powder price was $0.84/ lb., up six (6) cents from August. The higher powder price, along with a strong butter price, resulted in a September Class
IV price of $15.08/cwt. which is up $2.18/cwt. from August. This is the largest month to month increase in the Class IV price since order reform. All indicators point to continuing increases in the powder price. Look for Class IV to start setting the Class I Mover.
www.fmmatlanta.com September 2015 Class I Advanced Price (@ 3.5% BF) $20.14 October 2015 Class I Advanced Price (@ 3.5% BF) $19.64
Consumers keep “eating” more, but drinking less dairy products.__In 2014 total consumption of dairy products was a record 614 lbs. This is the tenth consecutive year total per capita consumption exceeded 600 lbs. During the past ten years, as shown in the table below, per capita consumption of cheese increased 9.1%, butter increased over 22%, and yogurt up a very strong 43.3%. Extremely important to the southeast, per capita consumption of fluid milk was only 159 lbs. in 2014. This is a drop of 26 lbs. in just ten years. Ice cream consumption is also down over the past ten years. I attribute much of the decline in ice cream consumption to the shift from ½ gallon packages to 1 ½ quart packages. Unit sales are probably the same, but total volume lower.
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 11
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
F.A.R.M. is good for the cows, good for farmers, and good for customers By Fabian Bernal, Manager of Dairy Science and Farm Practices DFA
T
o proactively answer the needs of consumers, retailers and processors, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), with the support from Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), and in collaboration with many industry leaders and stakeholders, developed the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program. Available to all dairy farmers in the United States, the FARM program is a voluntary, national set of guidelines designed to demonstrate farmers’ commitment to outstanding animal care and a quality milk supply. The FARM program has helped establish animal care standards for the dairy industry and has grown in adoption and recognition over the past several years. It continues to advance with an expert technical writing group and a new version to ensure best practices and further improvements persist on emerging areas of importance for dairy production and animal care. The on-farm evaluation provides a broad assessment of many
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On the Web: www.burkmann.com
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 12
management practices that affect and influence major areas of animal husbandry, such as recordkeeping , nutrition, handling, attention to animal health, , employee training, and residue prevention for milk and beef quality and safety. “Animal care has always been a topic important to people and customers,” says David Darr, DFA’s vice president of sustainability and general manager of Farm Services. “Things like animal care and wellness, environmental stewardship, water use, manure management and employee training are becoming more prevalent from customers who ask questions.” The FARM program sets industry-wide guidelines for animal care and wellness, it is also a tool that helps on the clarification of production best practices and utilizes third-party verification to ensure the validity and the integrity of the program to customers and consumers. The industry is committed to 100 percent producer participation in this program by the end of 2016--an increase from 94 percent industry participation today. The dairy industry has come a long way in a short time, seven years ago the industry’s primary improvement program and defense against critics, was research that often was difficult to apply directly to on-farm improvement and was slow to affect change and earn widespread support. Today, there are tens of thousands evaluations completed across the nation annually, and dozens of third party evaluations completed by Praedium, a leading third-party audit and verification company. The third-party verification process completed on FARM enrolled dairies across the country helps to provide muscle and credibility to the FARM program. As the dairy industry continues to support efforts like the FARM program, we are better equipped to manage threats to the industry and we are more informed about how we can improve—a pattern that has kept the U.S. dairy industry sustainable for so many generations. Borrowing guidelines from the FARM program, there are several practices herd managers across to the country can implement to help protect their herd and operation. It is important to create and develop policies and resources that can be used to train employees, including: • Veterinary Client/Patient Relationship Validation Form • Animal Care and Wellness Policy • Signage encouraging employees to report animal abuse immediately • Information about farm and herd monitoring/record keeping systems and software “What is good for the cow, is good for the farmer, is good for customers” is what most dairy farmers report as the result of the FARM evaluation and subsequent follow up by a field rep or other evaluator. With information and resources available to help dairies of all sizes and with relevant and realistic ways to improve, there is nothing to lose in participating in FARM. It is an advantage for your dairy and it ensures that the milk being produced and sold to families across the U.S. is safe and responsibly farmed. It is just the right thing to do!
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Hall of Fame Recognizes Beef & Dairy Veterinarians for Achievements and Dedication By Bovine Veterinarian news source September 22, 2015
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medicine by honoring the exceptional men and women who have made lasting contributions to their profession. Inductees are true pioneers whose achievements span their entire careers. The Hall of Fame is sponsored by Merck Animal Health, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, Bovine Veterinarian magazine and Osborn Barr.
ince the veterinary profession began 250 years ago, veterinarians have been helping farmers and ranchers do what they do best – produce safe, nutritious food for the world. There is no one more dedicated to the health and well-being of animals than the cattle production veterinarian. And on Friday, nearly Jenks S. Britt, D.V.M. – Dair y Inductee Jenks S. Britt, D.V.M., graduated from Auburn University 1,300 attendees had the privilege of honoring two of College of Veterinary Medicine in 1970. Shortly after these veterinarians, Gary P. Rupp, D.V.M., and Jenks S. graduating, he joined the Logan County Animal Clinic where Britt, D.V.M., at the annual Cattle Production Veterinarian he was a partner until 1993. Simultaneously, he and his partners Hall of Fame (CPVHOF) awards ceremony at the 48th established Bov Eq Embryo Transfer Service, and Animal American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Health Management. In 1993, after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Annual Conference in New Orleans. Rupp and Britt were disease, Britt joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin selected by their peers – including members of AABP College of Veterinary Medicine until 1998. He then returned to Western Kentucky and the Academy University and of Veterinary became a professor Consultants of the Department (AVC) – from of Agriculture, a group of six ser ving as c hair until beef and dairy 2004 and then veterinarian professor until nominees. his retirement “The beef and in 2008. He has dairy industries continued to have been work as a private fortunate to benefit consultant to from the wisdom many dairy farms and advancements throughout the provided by these United States and two remarkable Mexico. veterinarians,” “Being selected said Brent Meyer, by one’s peers is D.V.M., beef cattle the highest award technical services, an individual can Merck Animal Pictured L to R: John Maday (Editor of Bovine Vet), Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. (AABP receive,” said Britt. Health. “From theChairman), Jenks Britt, D.V.M. (2015 CPVHOF Dairy Inductee), Scott Nordstrom, “It was an honor K-R Spay deviceD.V.M. (Merck Animal Health) to be nominated designed by Dr. and a surprise to Rupp, to the Bov Eq Embryo Transfer Service developed by Dr. be selected with two other highly qualified candidates. I salute Britt, the innovations from these two men have significantly Merck Animal Health, AABP, AVC, Bovine Veterinarian advanced beef and dairy cattle management and bovine magazine and Osborn Barr for sponsoring this award.” reproduction.” Britt is board certified by the American Board of Veterinary Established in 2011, CPVHOF honors the traditions of Practitioners – Dairy. He has served on the Boards of Directors production veterinary medicine and the individuals who have of several industry organizations, and was president of AABP made a lasting impact on the profession. Through early mornings, in 1985. A few of Britt’s many honors and awards include the late nights and harsh weather conditions, veterinarians are a AABP Practitioner of the Year Award in 1992 and the AABP steadfast and essential part of cattle production. The CPVHOF Mentor Award in 2011. celebrates the rich traditions of cattle production veterinary
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 13
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
UK Animal and Food Sciences Department names Distinguished Alumnus, Hall of Fame Inductee By Aimee Nielson
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he University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences is recognizing two individuals who have been big supporters of Kentucky animal agriculture for decades. David Switzer is the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus. Switzer, a 1967 graduate of the college, has been associated with the Thoroughbred industry for more than 50 years, working in both racing and breeding. For 21 years, he was the executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. He retired in 2014 and soon after began serving as a lobbyist for Keeneland Association and the KTA, where he continues to advocate for agriculture. “Many people may not know that David serves agriculture beyond the horse industry,” said Richard Coffey, UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences department chair. “He recognizes that everyone in agriculture must be united to keep the rural quality of the Bluegrass. He’s served on many task forces to promote all agriculture in the region. David also continually supports the college’s mission in many ways. He is a prominent industry stakeholder who also understands the university world.” Over the years, David has advocated for issues that affect the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. He was a lead supporter of the capital project for the expansion of the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, serving on its initial industry advisory planning committee and its present day industry advisory committee. He joined with the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau and other key agricultural organizations to secure funding for the center and was instrumental in the project finally gaining full approval in 2008. This was key to the college, as the UK VDL has the highest equine necropsy caseload in the world, and one of the top five in cattle. Switzer received the Friend of the UK Equine Initiative Award in 2006 and was inducted into the UK CAFE Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2012, the highest award the college bestows. Gary T. Lane is the 2015 UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences Hall of Fame inductee. After growing up on a dairy and row crop farm in Central Kentucky, Lane graduated from Lindsey Wilson Jr. College in Columbia in 1961 and received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Berea College in 1963. He then earned a master’s and a doctoral degree from Purdue University before joining the faculty at Texas A&M University. During his tenure at TAMU, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses in animal nutrition, dairy science and dairy
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 14
production. In 1977, Lane came to UK to fill the role of dairy extension specialist. During his tenure at UK, he served as dairy section leader and overall extension leader for the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Lane left UK in 1986 to become a nutritionist and director of technical service at Burkmann Feeds in Danville. At the time, the company was small and had one mill and one company store in Central Kentucky. During his 20 years of service, Lane helped the company grow to nine feed mills and five company stores. Today Burkmann Feeds sells feed throughout most of Kentucky and has expanded to Tennessee. He retired in 2006 but continues to work part time. “Lane has served the animal science profession in many ways and has been a powerful leader, teacher and manager,” Coffey said. “Any organization he’s been a part of has grown or become more secure and meaningful. He’s been a friend to the college and to agriculture for decades.” He has been involved in a number of other national and state activities, including the organization of the North American Livestock Exposition dairy judging contest and participation on state and local livestock teams to promote animal agriculture in Kentucky. Lane was instrumental in the formation of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council in 2005, consisting of dairy producers and allied industry members. Switzer and Lane were recognized at the UK Department of Animal and Food Sciences Reunion on Oct. 2.
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Managing Poo on your Farm is the Rule By Meredith Scales
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f you own ten acres or more and are planning to milk cows, then you should have a Kentucky Agriculture Water Quality Plan (KAWQP), and a Kentucky Nutrient Management Plan (KNMP), or a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP). There has been a new program developed in Kentucky called The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The partnership includes: The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Kentucky Division of Conservation, (KDOC), the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the Kentucky Beef Network, and Kentucky Dairy Development Council (KDDC). This new comprehensive but flexible program is a unified effort to get the conservation practices in place on the farms in Kentucky to help preserve our natural resources for the next generation to use and enjoy. This program is designed to help farmers that have waste management issues and help them to make changes to correct them. This program is voluntary and is designed to help identify and correct deficient areas on the farm. The (KAWQP) is a workbook that outlines the best management practices on your individual farm and the areas that need attention to assure that proper practices are in existence to preserve the natural resources of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This workbook may be obtained at the County Cooperative Extension office or the local Natural Resource and Conservation Office. This is an examination of the best management practices on your farm. This plan addresses the areas that may contribute to the degradation of soil, water and air. It aids in providing information of areas on the farm that need attention. This workbook is the first step in developing a nutrient management plan. The KNMP and CNMP are documents that every dairy farmer needs to better manage nutrients, whether it be chemical fertilizers or organic materials produced on the farm. A KNMP can be developed to help participate in the initial phase to cost share in preparing a CNMP. This plan can be facilitated by a University of Kentucky Cooperative Extensive Service specialist. The KNMP can be used to develop new conservative practices that are not covered under the federal EQIP program. This will allow the RCPP partnership to help farmers to develop practices in waste management to protect the natural resources. The CNMP plan can be developed to allow the farmer to participate in the federal cost share program. This plan must be written by a technical service provider. The RCPP will provide cost share money to prepare this document.
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September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 15
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Fall Tour 2015 By Beth Cox risp fall mornings and sunshine fill the days of KDDC’s fall tour to Wisconsin. September 30 through October 3 dairy enthusiasts explored north of Kentucky. Thank you to all sponsors who made this trip possible: The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, Alltech, KDDC, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Neogen, Select Milk Producers Cooperative, and Givens and Houchins Inc. Milk Hauling. The first stop was to Fair Oaks Farm, Fair Oaks IN with a dairy tour of one of their eleven milking facilities. Fair Oaks milks around 37,000 cows and farms 19,000 acres. The replacement heifers are raised at one location for 8-10 weeks then sent to heifer raisers in several states including KY. The group got to see the 72 cow rotor parlor and watch the cows take an 8 minute ride around as they were being milked. Fair Oaks produces 70 tanker loads of milk a day which is shipped to 12 different states in the South. We also got to see Fair Oaks swine operation with 80,000 pigs produced a year by 2,900 sows. This was very interesting and educational. The Fair Oaks stop also included the Birthing Barn to watch baby calves being born. They also had a restaurant, café and gift ship, market bakery, and educational facility for kids. This is a great informative place to visit if you ever get the chance. The second day we toured ST Genetics in Fond Du Lac, WI where technology to sex semen is utilized. We got to witness a bull being collected and then saw the process of separating gender in the semen. ST Genetics contracts with the major breeding studs in the world for sexing semen. It was a very educational stop and was enjoyed by all. Our next stop was to Nehl Brothers Dairy in Juneau, WI. The Nehl brothers are 3rd generation dairy farmers milking 2,300 cows with a RHA of 30,000lbs. They utilized sand bedded freestalls for lactating and dry cows and bred heifers. They strive for replacement heifers to gain an average of
C
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 16
2 lbs. a day so they can calf in at 22 months of age. Our last stop of the day was to Pride View Dairy in Randolph, WI. The Boelte Brothers are 4th generation dairy farmers milking 1,100 cows. They also operate a milk hauling business. Pride View Dairy recently installed Cow Manager with the fertility and health programs. Their RHA is 33,000 lbs. of milk with a 3.65 percent butterfat. They utilize sand bedding in a cross ventilated freestall barn for the lactating herd. The dry cows are housed in sand bedding as well. They also have 8 automatic calf feeders, feeding pasteurized milk to the calves with an accelerated feeding and growth program. The next day everyone got to explore the famous World Dairy Expo looking at beautiful cows and watching the show or talking to vendors and viewing the latest equipment. We also got to experience some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches and milk shakes. Our final tour day took us to Golden Oaks Dairy in Wauconda, IL owned by the Crowne family. Golden Oaks Dairy breeds high type show cattle and are well known in the showing industry. They also milk 620 commercial cows averaging 96 lbs of milk a day. Sand bedding is also used in their freestalls. Most of the fancy show cows were off to the World Dairy Expo, but there were still plenty of beautiful, high producing cows to see. The Wisconsin Dairy Tour lived up to all the hype. New friends were made, old friendships renewed and it was all about dairy. Make plans to attend next year. You will be glad you did.
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© 2015 IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. • 107033-00-EN All ®/TM marks are owned by IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. The IDEXX Privacy Policy is available at idexx.com.
SINGAPORE
U.S. exports already duty-free under existing trade agreement.
BRUNEI
MALAYSIA
AUSTRALIA
U.S. exports already duty-free under existing trade agreement.
PERU
All tariffs eliminated immediately.
NEW ZEALAND
Tariffs eliminated by 2025 under existing trade agreement.
All tariffs eliminated immediately.
Tariffs, currently as high as 5%, eliminated on nearly all dairy products. Fluid milk tariffs eliminated in 15 years through quota.
Tariffs, currently as high as 30%, eliminated within 5 years.
VIETNAM
CANADA
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consect etur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod
U.S. exports already duty-free under existing trade agreement.
CHILE
U.S. exports already duty-free under NAFTA.
MEXICO
Tariffs eliminated for whey and expanded access through duty-free tariff-rate quotas for cheese, fluid milk, butter, milk powders, and other products.
Tariffs for Malaysia, Vietnam, and Japan eliminated within 20 years. For Australia and New Zealand, tariffs on milk powder and non-fat dry milk eliminated in 20-30 years. Tariff-rate quota access for other dairy products for Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.
UNITED STATES
Tariffs eliminated on cheese in 16 years and whey in 21 years. Quotas created for whey, butter, milk powder, evaporated and condensed milk.
JAPAN
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will provide significant new market opportunities for U.S. exporters, promoting economic growth in 11 countries across the Asia-Pacific region and expanding demand for U.S. food and agricultural products among nearly 500 million consumers outside the United States.
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
California Wisconsin New York Idaho Pennsylvania Texas Minnesota Michigan New Mexico Washington Source: USDA – NASS, 2012 Census of Agriculture
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Top Milk Producing States
The TPP strengthens trade rules and provides new market access for U.S. agricultural exports to Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Brunei.
Source: USDA - FAS GATS
TPP Region $3.6 billion Rest of World $3.5 billion
Total = $7.1 billion
U.S. Dairy Exports, 2014
United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service
KDDC is supported in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Allied Sponsors
S P E C I A L
Platinum Ag Central Alltech Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition Bluegrass Dairy & Food Burkmann Feeds Dairy Farmers of America Dairy Products Assoc. of KY Farm Credit Mid-America IDEXX IMMVAC, Inc. Kentucky Department of Agriculture Kentucky Farm Bureau Kentucky Soybean Board Mammoth Cave Dairy Auction MultiMin USA Organic Valley Prairie Farms Whayne Supply Zoetis
T H A N K S T O
Gold Ag Central Animal Health Management Services Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition CPC Commodities DeLaval IDEXX Kentucky Nutrition Service Land O’Lakes Mid-South Dairy Records Select Sires MidAmerica (KABA) Smith Creek, Inc.
O U R P L A T I N U M S P O N S O R S
Silver
Mammoth Cave Dairy Auction
Dairy Express Services Elanco Grain Processing Corp. Kentucky Veterinary Medical Assoc. Luttrull Feeds Owen Transport Southern States
Bronze ABS Global Advantage Hoof Care Bagdad Roller Mills Chaney’s Dairy Barn Clark Dairy Supply Cowherd Equipment Double “S” Liquid Feed Genetics Plus Hinton Mills Logan County Animal Clinic Owen Trucking Company STF Consulting Wilson Trucking
September - October 2015 • KDDC • Page 19
Non-Profit US Postage PAID Boelte-Hall LLC
176 Pasadena Drive Lexington, KY 40503 859.516.1129 ph www.kydairy.org
2015 Dairy Calendar of Events October 2015 October 24
Dare to Dairy, University of Kentucky
Coldstream Dairy, Lexington, KY
October 27
SUDIA District 12 MTG. Haub’s Steakhouse,
Haubstadt, In. 6:30 P.M. C.T.
October 29
SUDIA District 4 MTG. Claudia Sanders,
Shelbyville, KY 7:00 P.M. E.T.
October 30
SUDIA District 10 & 11 MTG. Blue Licks State
Park, Carlisle, KY 7:30 P.M.
SUDIA District 8 MTG. Lindsey Wilson
College, Columbia, KY 7:00 P.M. C.T.
November 10-11 National Dairy Leaders Coalition, Syracuse, NY November 12
Adair Co. Farm Field Day, TBA
November 13
SUDIA District 9 MTG. Laurel Co. Ext. Office,
London, KY 7:30 P.M.
November 17
SUDIA District 2,3, & 7 MTG. Cave City Conv.
Center, Cave City, KY 7:00 P.M.
November 20
KDDC Board Meeting, TBA
November 24
KY Ag Water Quality Authority Meeting –
Location TBA
November 2015 November 2
SUDIA District 1 MTG. Patti’s, Grand Rivers,
KY 7:00 P.M.C.T.
November 3 – 5 Southeast Quality Milk Initiative. Logan Co.
Extension Office 8:30 a.m. C.T.
November 3
SUDIA District 5 MTG. Taylor Co. Ext. Office,
Campbellsville, KY 7:00 P.M.E.T.
November 5
SUDIA District 6 MTG. Marion Co. Ext. Office,
Lebanon, KY 7:00 P.M. E.T
November 6-10 North American International Livestock
November 9
Exhibition, Louisville, KY
Milk Matters September - October 2015
November 30
Last day to sign up for Dairy-Market Protection
Program December 2015 December 2-5
Kentucky Farm Bureau Annual Meeting,
Louisville, KY