Your Dairy Promotion at Work

Your Dairy Checkoff at Work

CRISIS CONTENT CORNER

Activist groups are using any tactic they can think up to target farmers. Recently we’ve learned activist members are texting farmers and farm employees. If this happens to you, please contact your checkoff team, our contact information is below. Here are some tips:

• Remind employees of the farm’s animal care standards and the trainings they participated in to ensure proper animal handling. Periodically review animal handling practices, with everyone signing documents that the training took place.

• Be extra vigilant about who is on the farm and driving around the farm, watching for slower vehicles. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, flag for local authorities.

• Talk with employees about anti-ag groups, sharing that they do things like trespass and put lives in danger with some of the work they do. Ask your employees to help keep the animals and other employees safe from any harm that could happen by people not trained to work with large animals.

• Have farm employees watch the “I Care” video from the FARM program. Let us know if you need the passcode.

• If you receive text messages from anti-ag groups, you may also receive attention if you are active on social media. Contact us and we can help you manage social media activism.

• Review farm security basics. As members of the Animal Ag Alliance both ADAI and UDIM have access to resources and flyers to help keep farm security top of mind.

For more information, please contact your checkoff team:

MICHIGAN Jolene Griffin jolene@milkmeansmore.org, 224-567-1894

INDIANA Allie Rieth - rieth@winnersdrinkmilk.com, 317-443-2296

NATIONAL UPDATES

Exports

U.S. dairy exports posted the second highest January in volume on record and third highest January in value ($505 million), despite shipping delays and logistics headaches. Sstrong reasons for optimism remain regarding U.S. exports into the second and third quarter of 2021.

Powerful New Ways to Talk About Milk

Why did we go from milk providing 9 essential nutrients to milk providing 13 essential nutrients? Rest assured, milk is still milk. What’s inside is what’s always been inside. We just have more data available that shows there are even more nutrients important to wellness in every serving of milk. And, it is good news!

ADAI UPDATES

May Traditions Come Alive There's nothing like the Month of May in Indiana, and dairy farmer Jill Houin of Homestead Dairy shared her Indianapolis 500 history and excitement with students for the final virtual farm tour of the year. Named the “Coolest Trophy in Sports” by ESPN, the drink of milk at the end of the race shines an international spotlight on dairy farmers each year. Jill is the most recent Milk Person, charged each year with handing the iconic bottle of milk to the winning driver.

Football on the Farm

ADAI hosted Colts placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship on a virtual dairy farm tour with dairy farmer Kerry Estes in Fountaintown, Indiana. After the tour concluded, Rodrigo stayed online to see Kerry's son kicking a football - even imitating Rodrigo's beloved kick routine. If you need a break from your day, check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjislnmbuw.

Dairy Farmer Spokesperson Network training

Nationally-recognized trainer Joan Horbiak worked with Indiana dairy farmers, co-operative members, state agriculture staff, and other dairy community leaders for a day-long intensive media training. Attendees practiced speaking with consumers and telling their dairy story in a way that connects in person and online. Graduates of the course become part of a network used to fill media requests and host tours across the state for important thought leaders.

College of Health Partnership

As part of ongoing work to engage with thought leaders in the healthcare setting, ADAI is hosting a 3-part webinar series with Ball State University, College of Health. Each session will be developed to bring awareness to current and future healthcare professionals as well as community leaders about dairy- not just as a source of nutritious food for a growing population, but as an answer to environmental concerns through sustainable farming practices.

UDIM UPDATES

Record breaking Busch’s Milk Drive

This spring Busch’s Fresh Markets in Southeast Michigan hosted their Spring 2021 Milk Drive and it was a record breaker! Local teams and organizations supported stores via social media encouraging their communities to donate. 45,650 gallons of milk were donated by consumers to local food banks over the two-week drive. This is a 5,000-gallon increase over the fall 2020 milk drive.

What in the world is a WEBBIE?

Webbies, or educational videos, break down complex nutrition information into 5-minute videos.

UDIM’s first webbie, Leucine for Maximizing Performance, features longtime NDC ambassador and nationally recognized sports dietitian, Leslie Bonci, to educate health professionals on leucine, an important amino acid found in milk.

Milk Cooler Grants— one year later

In April 2020, UDIM granted 19 milk coolers to pantries nominated by dairy farm families. Nearly a year later, we reached out to grant recipients to glean some feedback about their programs and how the coolers were helping them to reach their dairy distribution goals. The food pantries had overwhelmingly positive feedback. One hundred percent of respondents said the milk cooler grant has allowed them to increase the amount of dairy they distribute to their clients.

Estimated Combined Reach:

• Serve over 6,000 people per month.

• Open an average of 9 days per month to serve their community.

• Distribute over 700 gallons of milk monthly, in addition to cheese, yogurt and butter.

100% of respondents said the UDIM milk cooler grant has allowed them to increase the amount of dairy they distribute to their clients.