Dairy New Products

All The Details: Inside John Deere’s New F8 and F9 Forage Harvesters

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 18:20:35 GMT

John Deere is rolling out two new forage harvesters for North American dairy producers and custom harvesting operations.

The brand new F8 and F9 Series feature three factory-installed operator cab options, a technology stack that will one day enable autonomous operation, and enhanced feed quality via an integrated inoculant dosing system.

How are F8 and F9 different?
The F8 Series (425PS to 645PS) is a narrow base model that takes the place of Deere’s 8000 Series forage harvester, while the F9 Series (700PS to 1020PS) replaces the 9000 Series. Within the F9 Series is the F9 1000, which is Deere’s largest forage harvest machine to date.

(Editor’s Note: “PS” stands for Pferdestärke, which is the German term for horsepower. PS to horsepower is not an apples-to-apples equal ratio. The F9 1000, for example, features 1020PS which equates to 1,006HP, according to the manufacturer.)

The F9 is available in two engine options:

John Deere 18X (no DEF required)
Liebherr V12 24L

It has five horsepower options, while the F8 comes with the JD14X engine and can be configured across six horsepower options.

The manufacturer last rolled out completely new forage harvesters in 2019.

How much will each new model cost?

The feed rolls on John Deere’s F8 and F9 forage harvesters have integrated metal detection to keep unwanted material out of your feed.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

John Deere is not sharing its pricing just yet, but the two new models are built at its Zweibrucken, Germany, factory. John Deere dealers will begin taking orders for the aggressively styled, technology-packed harvesters this fall, with final delivery in time for the 2026 forage harvesting season.

Deere representatives declined comment on what effect, if any, the still-developing U.S.and E.U. tariff situation could have on its launch plans.

Ahead of the launch, Farm Journal went to Madison, Wisc., to kick the tires and learn all about the new machines. The F8 and F9 harvesters we viewed and climbed into were the first finished production units off the factory line. Deere says several units will be field tested with U.S. customers ahead of the full fall launch.

“We’re really excited about the new cab and the technology we’ve added to these machines like central tire inflation, ground speed automation and the new kernel processing units,” says Bergen Nelson, go-to-market manager, combines and forage harvesters.

Here’s some of what we learned about the new forage harvesters:

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Cab Comforts: The same three operator cab options offered with Deere’s X and S Series combines — Select, Premium and Ultimate — are available on the F8 and F9 Series. A smoothly swiveling captain’s chair, as well as an all-new corner post display that shows real-time machine data, are among the additions. Operators who spend long hours in the cab will also appreciate integrated entertainment like SXM Radio and an optional mini fridge.

(Matthew J. Grassi )

Foundational Deere Tech Stack: Each new forage harvester in the series includes Deere’s baseline precision tech enablement stack — which consists of its G5 display, Starfire 7500 receiver and JDLink modem.

Central Tire Inflation System: A completely new feature (top left inset photo) within the G5 display allows the operator to adjust front tire PSI up or down from the cab.

John Deere Inoculant Dosing System 2.0

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Inoculant Dosing System 2.0: New on both the F8 and F9, a high-volume 85 gallon inoculant tank and integrated pump allow the user to accurately adjust silage inoculant dosage rates from the G5 display in the cab. The system is easy to pump and prime as well with the touch of a button located at the rear of the machine.

Ground Speed Automation: This cruise control-like option reads RPMs and throttles the harvester up or down based on crop conditions. For example, harvesting corn at higher moisture levels will increase power output, so the machine will automatically slow down to ensure it doesn’t plug up or do a sub-optimal job harvesting. This feature comes standard on all base models for both series and does not require a yearly subscription unlock or per-acre fee.

Pro Touch Harvest: Another new feature within the G5 display allows the operator to shift the machine from road transport mode to harvest mode in a single click. It can also be used to quickly engage AutoTrac and ground speed automation once the operator arrives at the edge of field.

This all-new XStream 305 Kernel Processing (KP) unit is built by Scherer in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Kernal Processing (KP) Units: The new harvesters feature two completely redesigned KP units, the Ultimate 250 (also made in Germany) and the Scherer XStream 305, which is made in Sioux Falls, S.D. An integrated winch and internal rail mounting system makes switching the machine from corn forage to hay forage in the field quick and simple. The number signifies each KP unit’s roll diameter width in millimeters.

“Both KPs will go in both machines and have four different roll options depending on how aggressive the dairyman wants their end feed quality to be,” says Shane Campbell, product marketing manager, forage harvesters.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

Integrated Harvest Lab 3000: This on-demand constituent sensing module pulls over 4,000 samples per second with +/- 2% accuracy, and John Deere says it can save dairy operations time and money versus collecting and sending samples to a lab. The sensor tech (available as an add-on option) enables accurate measurement and documentation of dry matter, starch, protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber for both harvested forage and manure. The data can be stored, organized and shared via Deere’s Operations Center. Within Operations Center, users can take geo-referenced data and build out spatial starch content — as well as moisture and protein — maps for hybrid selection and fertility management. Because if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.

Active Fill Control 3.0: Using sensors and cameras on the grain spout, this tech feature automatically detects the trailer or grain cart next to the forage harvester and begins filling it with a preselected fill strategy. This reduces the number of times an operator has to adjust the spout manually and also lessens fatigue and neck strain, according to Deere.

(Matthew J. Grassi)

New Operating Modes: Several of the models within the F9 Series offer what Deere is calling its “Engine Power Plus” feature — which gives a sizeable horsepower boost when the machines senses it needs a little extra chopping power to the harvesting head. There is also an ECO mode that can be toggled on when the machines don’t need the extra torque.

Ease-Of-Access: Both models have side and rear panels that easily open to grant full access to the inner workings of the machines, making the new forage harvesters much easier to service and maintain without a lift or other heavy specialized equipment. The machine is setup so techs and mechanically-minded farmers will not have to climb underneath it to perform daily maintenance.

“At the end of the day, we know it’s all about the cow, and these machines will put out quality feed,” Nelson says. “We’ll have these out at the farm shows this summer, including Farm Progress Show, World Ag Expo, World Dairy Expo and the U.S. Custom Harvesters Convention.”

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A New Milk Brand with Kid Appeal

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMT

There’s a lot of buzz these days about the demerits of sugar, the virtues of protein, and “Making America Healthy Again.”

A Texas mom has developed a for-kids milk product that checks all those boxes and more. Ashley Waldman developed Jubilee’s Flavored Milk as she struggled to get her toddler daughter to drink milk. She wanted an alternative to stirring in sugary chocolate syrup, and found that other low-sugar and plant-based milk products lacked appeal to children. “Kids did not want them, and these products ended up at the bottom of the trash bin,” said Waldman. “It’s just a waste of money.”

Waldman solicited the help of her father, a veteran of the beverage industry, to develop a kid-friendly milk product that was low in sugar, naturally flavored, and tasted amazing.

The most amazing part may be the ingredients that are used for flavoring – carrot, beet, turmeric, strawberries, and banana puree. All of the products are USDA Certified Organic and packaged in shelf-stable, lunchbox-ready cartons.

Jubilee’s three flavors -- Chocolate Chip Cookie, Strawberry Shortcake, and Banana Cream Pie -- all deliver 7-8 grams of protein, 100% vitamins, and zero added sugar in each 8-ounce, 170-calorie serving.They are touted as, “a new kind of flavored milk that tastes like dessert, but that every parent can feel good about, and every kid will ask for again and again.” The product’s tagline: “Real ingredients. Real yum.”

The flavored milk is currently for sale in individual cartons and 6- and 12-unit multipacks on Amazon and the Jubilee’s website .

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John Deere Introduces 326 P-Tier Compact Wheel Loader

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:39:03 GMT

John Deere announces the release of its new 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader. The 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader offers 16-plus feet of reach from its telescopic lift arm while still being compact enough to work in barns or other tight spaces.

“Operators will enjoy it for the cab visibility, the boom controls and the exclusive Articulation Plus steering system,” said Luke Gribble, John Deere go-to-market manager. “Put it all together, and the 326 P-Tier is a real multitool for the farm or ranch.”

To help guard against overloading, The Load Torque Indicator System gives visual and audible alarms if stability limits are exceeded during lifting, lowering or extension of the lift arm. In addition, a separate indicator warns of potential overload of the tilt cylinder.

“Features like these help make the 326 P-Tier an operator-friendly wheel loader for farmers and ranchers,” Gribble said. “And it is perfect for less-experienced operators.”

Inside the cab, operators will find a comfortable, easy-to-navigate environment. A 9-inch touchscreen display puts key information within easy view, and it shows key data such as warnings, status and machine-positioning information.

Conveniently placed electro-hydraulic controls offer Auto Return-to-Dig, and Auto Lift and Lower functions, and help to reduce cycle times. Optional boom-mounted lights and standard overhead window allow for a clear view to the end of the telescoping arm.

The new compact wheel loader also features a 23-mph top speed to help move quickly between jobs. And for tight turning in barns and other cramped spaces, its Articulation Plus steering system offers a full 30 degrees of articulation plus 10 additional degrees of rear-wheel steering.

To learn more about the new 326 P-Tier telescopic compact wheel loader, visit JohnDeere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

Acceleration of Autonomy

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:30:00 GMT

Feed and labor are the two biggest budget items for dairies. With the costs of both climbing, could autonomy be a possible solution for the labor shortage on dairy farms today? John Deere is banking on it, with a goal of offering a fully autonomous equipment fleet in just seven years.

According to Stan Moore with Michigan State University Dairy Extension, labor costs eat up nearly 14% of a dairy’s total expenses, with year-over-year labor expenses trending higher.

As the policy battle over labor issues continues, it seems the answer to solving dairy farmers’ labor woes may need to take root in other places. And less manpower needed to run equipment may be one of those solutions.

In an exclusive interview with Farm Journal during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Deere & Co.’s Chief Technology Officer (CT) Jahmy Hindman says Deere has already made a down payment on autonomy for the future with its autonomous tillage solution.

“It’s the most practical from a technology perspective place for us to start, but eventually that’s going to become an autonomous planting opportunity, it’s going to become an autonomous grain cart opportunity. When we get tractor jobs finished, we’ll look at sprayers and at combines,” says Hindman.

Sights Set on 2030

As autonomy accelerates, Deere has a clear goal: to offer a fully autonomous equipment fleet in just seven years.

“Our goal is by 2030, in certain production systems, to be able to offer farmers a fully autonomous production system -- from spring tillage and planting all the way through harvest.”

Deere’s 2030 goal is clear, but Hindman understands not every farmer will want to go all-in on autonomy. That’s why he’s adamant farmers will have a choice of options, even in 2030 and beyond.

“There’s a reason there’s a cab still on the tractor,” says Hindman. “There are a lot of growers that maybe don’t want the autonomy solution or don’t see value in it for themselves at this point in time, but they still want to be able to operate the machine. There are a lot of jobs that are done on the farm that we won’t make autonomous.”

(Maybe) you still want to move snow in the wintertime in your driveway where you’re going to do that from the cab of the tractor, right? And as a person that spent a lot of time in a tractor seat, there’s just an emotional attachment and satisfaction that you get from seeing the work done yourself. And so, there’s a reason that a cab is still on the tractor. I think that’s an important part of it.”

Whether it’s autonomous or machine learning, the ag tech space within the equipment industry is gaining traction. So, why is ag tech growing so rapidly? Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Senior VP Curt Blades says one reason is the sheer amount of quality data available today.

“The data is what’s allowing good robotics to make more sense. It’s allowing for better management decisions. It’s allowing for better prescriptions,” he says. “You have to have the data in place to be able to take advantage of some of the technology that was unveiled, either in practice or in concept at CES.”

Are Electric Tractors the Next Wave of the Future?

Another popular theme during CES was electrification. During the 2022 CES, Doosan Bobcat unveiled an all-electric compact track loader, which was also on display this year. This year, Deere introduced its first all-electric excavator.

Even with electric equipment making waves in the construction space, Hindman says the results of electrification in farm equipment is mixed. Hindman says in lower horsepower equipment, Deere’s findings show electrification could be a solution for 100 horsepower and under equipment. But for higher horsepower levels, he says the science shows electrification doesn’t work.

“I talked about the 8R tractors [in the CES keynote},” Hindman says. “When I ran the numbers on it, if you power that with a lithium-ion battery today, it’s twice the volume, twice the weight, twice the mass, and four times the cost. That just doesn’t pencil.”

Fueled By Renewable Diesel

Instead, Hindman says Deere has found renewable fuels and renewable diesel is a better fit for higher horsepower application when you get into the carbon offset discussion.

“Things like renewable diesel, from soybean oil or canola oil, or ethanol as an alternative in a compression ignition engine, would be a more interesting solution at the higher power levels,” says Hindman.

He says the largest limitation for using more renewable diesel products today is availability.

Kemps Launches First-of-its-Kind Smooth Cottage Cheese for Kids

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 17:00:00 GMT

Kemps is introducing Kemps Smooth Cottage Cheese for kids, a new cottage cheese with no curds and a smooth and creamy texture.

The new offering gives parents a nutritious and delicious option for their kids, as Kemps Smooth Cottage Cheese packs a protein punch with almost twice as much protein per ounce as most yogurts, along with real, blended fruit, probiotics, and no high fructose corn syrup, stated the company.

“At Kemps, we are always looking for ways to meet consumer needs and know parents are seeking nutritious options that are kid approved,” said Nathaniel Renteria, senior brand manager for Kemps. “This new cottage cheese has a smooth and creamy texture, with no curds, and is blended with real fruit flavors, so it’s really more like a yogurt, which we know kids love. Plus, parents can feel good about giving it to their kids for lunch or a snack because it has probiotics and almost twice as much protein per ounce as most yogurts – so it’s a win-win!”

According to an Attitudes and Usage Survey conducted by Kemps, over 40% of respondents said they would be motivated to eat cottage cheese if it tasted better and had a better texture. Made with 4% whole milk cottage cheese and mixed with real, blended fruit (no chunks or mixing to do), Kemps Smooth Cottage Cheese combines the flavor and texture (no curds) of yogurt with the nutritional value of traditional cottage cheese.

The product is launching in three flavors: Mixed Berry, Strawberry and Strawberry Banana. Kemps Smooth Cottage Cheese features special characters from the portfolio of Hasbro, including Peppa Pig, PJ Masks and Transformers, in convenient four-ounce, four-cup packs. The product will be available in the dairy aisle at over 2,500 stores across the country, including Walmart, Hy-Vee and Cub. Prices may vary depending on location and retailer but start as low as $3.98.

Kemps is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America. All profits go to dairy farmers and their families.

North Dakota’s Last Cheese Plant to Close

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

The last cheese plant in North Dakota is closing, according to state news reports Wednesday.

Saturday will be the last day that Dakota Country Cheese in Mandan, N.D., will pick up milk, and the last cheese will be made on Monday, June 28.

Dwindling supplies of milk have made it difficult for the cheese plant to operate, and the cheese market also has gone in the tank, said owner and manager Virgil Johnson.

About two dozen employees work at the 35-year-old plant.

The closure will leave 32 farmers looking for a new market for their milk, according to the Associated Press.

A group of investors who had considered purchasing the facility have also given up their plans, the Bismarck Tribune reported Wednesday.

“The volume that seemed to be readily available for that plant was troublesome,” said Pat Downs, a cooperative specialist who had been assisting a group of dairy producers studying the feasibility of purchasing the plant.

Milk production in the area has been going down, and the cheese plant no longer looked like a good investment, the Tribune noted.

Even so, it’s not all gloom and doom, said Gary Hoffman, executive director of the North Dakota Dairy Coalition.

“While that was the only private cheese plant, major co-ops are still looking for milk,” Hoffman said.

Both AMPI’s Cass Clay division and Dairy Farmers of America operate cheese plants just over the border in South Dakota, said Hoffman. “We still have milk flowing into those cheese plants,” he said.

Efforts are ongoing to expand dairy production in North Dakota, Hoffman said. “We’re still interested in people moving here to dairy,” he said. “We’re working with several folks from Canada, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.”

A Canadian family built a 1,500-cow dairy in North Dakota about a year ago, he added. Another family from Canada recently purchased an 800-cow facility.

“There’s plenty of room to grow here,” Hoffman said. “We have advantages over other areas, including abundant, low-cost feed and cheap land.”

Catherine Merlo is Western editor for Dairy Today. You can reach her at cmerlo@farmjournal.com .

Market Watch Diary Aligning the stars

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

One morning in late April, a longtime dairy trader told me he was “perplexed.” Whereas the dairy markets usually are either long or short, on this particular day he couldn’t quite pin things down with any certainty.

Prices had been trending up and there was a clear bullish sentiment in the market, yet he wasn’t quite sure that all the stars were aligning.

In truth, the whole constellation is interconnected. Each part is tethered to another, and when one gets out of line, something has to give. Here are a few examples:

In the world of dairy ingredients, all things come back to protein. Therefore, the whey complex and nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder tend to travel together. This spring, the global milk powder market was firming but whey was facing some price resistance, particularly from the feed sector. If dry whey can’t push past 40¢/lb., it’ll be difficult for nonfat dry milk to move above $1.30.

Likewise, Class III and Class IV prices tend to move in sync. In the last seven years, there were only a few months—in the summer and fall of 2007—when the Class IV price got more than 50¢ above the Class III price. We’re about to test this relationship again because the April prices, to be released after press time, will have Class IV about 75¢ higher than Class III. The May spread could be larger still.

When the relative values shift, more milk is channeled into butter/powder production and supplies increase. Then a little less goes into the cheese vat, and supplies decrease. It may take a few months, but eventually the balance is restored.

The relationship between U.S. prices and world prices also bears watching. In a global market, all prices strive for equilibrium. If world levels get too high relative to U.S. levels, overseas buyers start to buy from the U.S. and U.S. prices realign. If U.S. levels get too high, America’s exports decline, its imports increase and prices come back down to earth.

As I write this in late April, the international prices for butter and milk powder are rallying on fears of supply shortages for the balance of the summer months.

Traders are trying to determine if these runups are strong enough to pull the entire U.S. dairy complex higher or if the relative softness of the U.S. cheese and whey markets will be an anchor on the entire thing.

Bonus content:

Federal Orders price announcements

Before You Buy

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

A good supplier will relay market trends to you in a timely fashion and help you manage feed costs, says Virginia Tech’s Bob James.

You’re not alone if you’re reluctant to buy corn, cottonseed or other dairy feed at today’s high prices. Nobody wants to pay $265/ton for corn when there’s a chance the market might dip to $235.

Sooner or later, however, you’ve got to make your decision. Consider these tips for making wise feed purchases:

Become informed. “Have a passing knowledge of the underlying fundamentals to form a realistic perspective of the markets,” says Joel Karlin, market analyst for Western Milling Quality Feeds in California. One way is to subscribe to information services that provide timely, brief reports on market trends, says Bob James, dairy scientist with Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech. “This information will also help you negotiate in an informed manner with your feed supplier,” James says. Most milk marketing cooperatives also provide such information to their members. Identify the big-picture trends, says David Byers, a Virginia-based consultant who offers technical market advice to dairy clients. “Corn and soybean meal are in a mega bull market trend that will propel prices higher for years,” Byers notes. “This is a major trend, the big picture to keep in mind. “The trend is your friend,” he adds. “Over the last two years, the market has been going up. When it sells off, buy on the declines.” Be aware that many markets have defined seasonality patterns. Commodity prices traditionally trade at high and low points, Karlin says. September and October, for example, are often the best time to buy Midwest-produced corn and soybean meal, because supplies of the just-harvested crops are generally at their largest and prices among their most competitive. Buy fractionally to reduce your price risk. “Beware thinking you’ve got the market figured out,” Byers says. “You’re not smarter than the market.” He recommends buying or contracting feed in increments of 25% of your needs. Develop relationships with several feed suppliers. Their long-term goal is for your continued profit -- and theirs, says James. “A little competition is good for everyone,” he says. “However, loyalty to good service and reasonable pricing will encourage the supplier to stick with you when times are tough economically. A good supplier will relay market trends to you in a timely fashion and help you manage feed costs. Don’t switch suppliers at the slightest burp in feed prices.” Look at the price spread between the spot and the forward markets. Future prices tend to be higher because they reflect carrying charges. But market uncertainty can create an inverted market, where a commodity like corn may be priced $20/ton cheaper on the spot market than in distant trading, Karlin says. Evaluate the relevance of ingredients. James encourages producers to weigh the cost of each ingredient against the benefit it provides to the ration.

“What are the benefits of continued inclusion in the ration and the risks of economic losses if it’s removed from the ration?” he asks. “What are the limitations to higher, economical production for the herd? If somatic cell count exceeds 350,000 or days in milk exceed 225 for the group, it’s unlikely that some premium-priced ingredients will elicit an economical return.” Karlin agrees. Crude protein makes up 48% of soybean meal and 35% of canola, he says. “If canola is less than three-fourths the price of soy meal, canola may be a relatively good buy,” he says. Communicate with your nutritionist before locking in supplies, especially when considering forward contracts for byproducts commodities, says Buzz Burhans, president of Dairy-Tech Group, a Virginia-based dairy nutrition consulting firm. “Ask your nutritionist to evaluate whether commodities being considered are a good fit or essential for your herd’s nutritional needs,” he says. “Given expected prices for other ingredients, ask him or her to advise at what price a commodity will move into or out of your herd’s diets.” Remember your purpose. Burhans suggests keeping in mind that the objective of forward contracting feedstuffs is to control costs by managing feed cost risk.

“It is better to have locked in a workable price than to miss securing reasonable prices because one waited for an apparent market bottom,” he says. “Afterward, don’t anguish over missing lower market prices; it is not possible to beat the market all the time. Remember, the goal is risk management, and reasonable price does not necessarily mean lowest.”

Bonus content:

Numerous ag commodities are covered at Farm Journal Media’s www.agweb.com . Updated several times a day, the site is billed as “Your spot for futures trading, commodities information, ag news, successful farming tips and more.”
“Dairy and Grain Report” - Blimling and Associates - www.blimling.com .
“Weekly Market Update” from National All-Jersey Inc. - www.usjersey.com .
“The Friday Facts” - Dairylea Cooperative and DFA’s Northeast Council - www.dairylea.com/News_and_Publications/FridayFacts/FridayFacts.htm .

Rethinking What's for Dinner: Can dairy adapt to emerging trends?

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

Marketing experts often refer to the dairy case as “Siberia”: white, cold and unappealing to consumers.

It’s 5:30 on a Wednesday evening, and shoppers are lining up at the deli counter inside the Albertsons Supermarket in northwest Bakersfield, Calif.

They’re eyeing grab-and-go meal items: fried and whole roasted chicken, prepared salads, baked beans, potato wedges. “I want something quick and easy,” says a woman, loading several items into her shopping basket.

That comes as no surprise to John Stanton, a professor of food marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, Pa., who has made a career of observing and interpreting consumer behavior.

“For the past 20 years, the driving consumer forces in food have been convenience, taste and health, in that order,” Stanton says.

But while those forces remain strong, he’s got a few new trends to add. “Food safety is the No. 1 issue for U.S. consumers today,” Stanton says.

Consumer trust in the overall food system has eroded, say David Pelzer and Michael Stammer of Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI).

This is partly due to widely reported incidents of foodborne illnesses from contaminated spinach, lettuce, jalapeño peppers and ground beef. Attitudes toward milk and dairy have been affected too, though neither was involved, Pelzer and Stammer say. That’s led consumers to demand more proof that their milk and other food is safe.

Such demands, however, present a dilemma for consumers, Stanton says, because they don’t understand the current food system. “So they use surrogate measures, like turning to locally produced food,” he says. “They trust that their neighbor, the farmer down the road, is not going to harm them.”

A National Restaurant Association survey of more than 1,600 professional chefs late last year revealed that nutrition and philosophy-driven food choices would be the hottest trends on restaurant menus in 2009.

The survey’s No. 1 trend? Locally grown produce. Bite-sized desserts and organics ranked second and third. Healthy kids’ meals placed fourth.

Artisan cheeses and sustainable seafood were among the top 20 trends.

Yet “green” or sustainable influences may not drive sales as much as media hype might indicate. A survey conducted earlier this year by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Deloitte showed that while 54% of shoppers often consider environmental sustainability characteristics in their buying decisions, they actually bought “green” products on just 22% of their shopping trips.

That doesn’t surprise Stanton either. “I put sustainability into the same category as low fat,” he says. “Everybody talks about it, but no one seems to be buying it. I just want a delicious, cold, refreshing glass of milk. I leave it to the dairy industry to produce it in a sustainable way.”

Interest in animal welfare, however, is a very real trend. California’s newly passed Proposition 2, with its emphasis on changing caged animal production, reflects consumers’ concern for how livestock is raised, says Robert James, dairy science professor at Virginia Tech University.

What to make of changing food trends? For starters, dairy must continue to find ways to be more convenient, Stanton says. The cardboard, hard-to-open milk carton isn’t the answer. Resealable tops, containers that fit into cars’ drink holders, cute packaging and colorful “chugs” are.

Dairy might also rethink its practice of featuring photos of missing children on its milk cartons, Stanton says. He thinks packaging that shows the farms and people who produce the milk would help tie a dairy product to its origins.

Dairy could also improve its presence in grocery stores and supermarkets. “Some people call the dairy section ‘Siberia,’” Stanton says. “It’s white and cold. Shoppers grab what they want and run out as quickly as they can.”

Dairy would fare better if it were positioned throughout the store, just as soft drinks are, he adds. That includes the increasingly popular displays at supermarkets that offer ready-to-assemble meals in one spot.

Where’s the milk? The dairy industry should position its products in ready-to-assemble meal displays, says marketing expert John Stanton.

The dairy industry could do more to capitalize on the growing interest in food safety, locally grown food and animal welfare, says Virginia Tech’s James. “The average consumer knows very little about science,” he says. “So we need to build good relationships with consumers.”

On environmental issues, “the dairy industry needs to take the high road,” James says. “A good example of this is the Waste Solutions Forum in the East, where environmental groups, animal industries and government agents work together to solve problems rather than combat each other in court.”

James also faults the dairy industry for creating some of its consumer disconnect. “Sometimes, we’ve not been good stewards of the land,” he adds. “Sometimes, we’ve negatively impacted the environment by adding excess phosphorus and nitrogen.”

Likewise, James says, locating dairies in “vacant” or distant places requires milk to be shipped great distances. Consumers looking for locally grown food may be put off when they learn their milk has traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to reach them. Ironically, James points out, these same consumers don’t want farms located near their homes.

“We’ve also done a poor job with technologies such as rBST,” James says. “We let that fall by the wayside by not effectively assuring consumers of its safety. And we haven’t done a very good job promoting animal welfare to producers. We need to show consumers that farm size has little bearing on desirable welfare.”

Understanding and responding to consumer trends may not be easy, James acknowledges. But in an era of time-pressed shoppers who are increasingly concerned about their food, finding new ways to meet consumer preferences is crucial to boosting dairy demand.

“We have to have dairy foods that are consistent with how consumers want to eat,” Stanton says. “Food marketing is simple: It is making people want to eat, not making people eat what you want to make.”

Bonus content:

Local, Natural, and Fresh - By Jim Dickrell

Go Local, Go Direct - By Catherine Merlo

DFA Promotes 100% Farmer Ownership on Borden Cheese - By Catherine Merlo

Chef Survey: What’'s Hot in 2009 by the National Restuarant Association

“Finding the Green In Today’s Shoppers: Sustainability Trends and New Shopper Insights,” from the Grocery Manufacturers Association and Deloitt

Danone Soars as Stronger Dairy Sales Accompany 900 Job Cuts

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 21:30:59 GMT

The giant yogurt maker foresees “negative” business conditions in Europe being more than offset by emerging markets.

Feb. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Danone, the owner of Evian bottled- water and Activia yogurt, rose the most in almost three years in Paris trading after fourth-quarter sales beat estimates and the company announced plans to cut 900 jobs in Europe.

The shares gained as much as 5.5 percent to 52.97 euros, the steepest intraday advance since May 2010. Like-for-like sales increased 4.9 percent in the fourth quarter, exceeding analyst estimates of a 3.7 percent gain.

The sales growth helped ease concern over weakening demand for dairy products in southern Europe as consumers shift to cheaper private-label alternatives. Danone, which gets more than half its sales from dairy products, said it will cut about 4 percent of jobs in Europe, or almost 1 percent of its total workforce, as part of a plan announced in December to reduce costs by 200 million euros ($267 million) over two years.

The stronger sales “might indicate that we may be close to a turning point,” Warren Ackerman, an analyst at Societe Generale, said in a note to clients. A 0.4 percent increase in the quantity of dairy products sold was the main reason that revenue beat estimates in the quarter, he said.

Danone stock traded 4.9 percent higher at 52.64 euros as of 3:26 p.m. in Paris trading. Nelson Peltz, the billionaire activist investor, said in November that his Trian Fund Management LP owned a 1 percent stake.

The jobs being eliminated comprise both management and administrative positions in 26 countries across Europe, the maker of Actimel yogurt drinks said. The plan is being presented to the company’s European Works Council today.

The cuts follow calls by Peltz for management to pare costs and focus on cash returns. The investor, who has helped bring change to companies including H.J. Heinz Co., Wendy’s Co. and Family Dollar Stores Inc., has also urged Danone to avoid costly takeovers. Danone Chief Executive Officer Franck Riboud declined to comment today on whether the two sides have met. A spokeswoman for Trian also declined to comment.

Danone studies all acquisition opportunities that arise, Chief Financial Officer Pierre-Andre Terisse said on a call with reporters today. He had no comment on Nestle SA’s plans to divest assets after its acquisition of an infant nutrition unit of Pfizer Inc. The French company said it would like to expand its collaboration with Yakult Honsha Co., though it has “no intention” of making a hostile bid to increase its 20 percent stake in the Japanese milk-drink maker.

‘Profitable Growth’

Danone forecast like-for-like sales growth of at least 5 percent this year, with “negative” business conditions in Europe being more than offset by emerging markets, which account for more than half of the company’s revenue.

The operating margin will probably narrow by 30 basis points to 50 basis points amid rising raw-materials prices and promotions on some products. Profitability is expected to improve in the second half of the year compared with the first six months and then stabilize in 2014, it said. The impact of raw-material costs is growing and they are expected to rise at a low-to-mid single-digit pace this year, according to Danone.

The 2013 guidance “should be enough to underpin the current consensuses and we expect little change to estimates,” Alex Smith, an analyst at Espirito Santo, wrote in a report.

Net income from continuing operations rose to 1.82 billion euros last year, from 1.75 billion euros a year earlier, the company said. The average estimate of 28 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg was 1.81 billion euros.

The operating margin narrowed 0.5 percentage point to 14.2 percent, while sales rose 5.4 percent on a like-for-like basis, exceeding 20 billion euros for the first time.

Like-for-like sales at the dairy products unit rose 1.3 percent in the fourth quarter, with higher prices adding to the volume growth, the company said.

Revenue from Danone’s bottled-water business increased 8.5 percent in the quarter, helped by increased demand in emerging markets. Sales of baby-nutrition products climbed 12 percent.

Announcing $1.7 Million in Funding Available to Dairy

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant program, which will provide grants for dairy farmers to access funds that support the purchase of equipment and other related costs that will improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies.

On-Farm Milk Storage and Handling Grant
Dairy farmers may apply for funds to support the purchase of equipment and supplies to improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies. Applicants can select from a list of eligible equipment. This grant has an application period of August 25th-October 6th. Grants will range from $15,000- $50,000 with a 25% match commitment. Match waivers may be available.

Dairy Farm Cohort Technical Assistance Program
Service providers will be able to submit proposals to develop cohorts of dairy farmers to address relevant areas of technical assistance to their region. Building on the success of eight current cohorts funded by NE-DBIC, service providers can submit proposals for projects up to $150,000. Topics can focus on grazing, forage enhancement, innovative farm practices, marketing, and/or other areas of support for farmers. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is open now with a deadline of September 16th.

Dairy Farm Production Education Funding
Funds are available for service providers and dairy producer associations to develop events, webinars, educational series, or conferences to increase farmer-focused production and business viability education. Proposals will be accepted for projects up to $35,000. The RFP is open now with a deadline of September 16th.

There will be additional opportunities rolling out in the next few months. To learn more, visit: Grants, Contracts & Opportunities | Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets (vermont.gov)

Startup Companies Introduced for DFA’s 2022 CoLAB ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 19:00:00 GMT

With the mantra, ‘The best ideas are born out of collaboration,’ DFA offers a community that creates ideas to continue to help propel all avenues of dairy forward.

The cooperative’s CoLab Accelerator program is a 90-day, immersive program that accelerates and grows ag-tech and dairy food startup businesses through mentoring and educational programming. Startups will gain a thorough understanding of the dairy industry and will have the opportunity to work with top executives from DFA and other relevant investors and dairy industry leaders.

This year, a nutrient management solution for agricultural wastewater, an in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology for the farm and a new caffeinated, high protein chocolate milk beverage for adults are just a few of the startup companies selected to participate in the 2022 DFA CoLAB Accelerator program.

“It’s always exciting to welcome a new class of startups into our CoLAB Accelerator program as these companies bring fresh thinking and ideas to benefit our farm family-owners and help further grow and invigorate the dairy case,” Doug Dresslaer, director of cultural innovation at DFA, says. “This year, we’re particularly excited to take a hybrid approach with the program by bringing back more collaborative, in-person sessions while also meeting virtually.”

Throughout the program, participants will receive advice and participate in educational sessions on a variety of topics important for startup growth, including finance, business development, distribution and supply chain, product development, brand building, sales and marketing, packaging and pricing.

The 2022 CoLAB Accelerator Class includes:

AgTech:

Cattle Scan (Guelph, Canada) – Real-time monitoring technology that measures the biometrics of individual cattle, starting with temperature. Data can be accessed on a cloud-based platform and allows farmers to improve the overall health of their herds.
The Hago Energetics Company (Camarillo, Calif.) – Aims to helps farms, either cattle or dairy, convert waste, like manure, into fuel cell grade hydrogen using a patented carbon negative approach that does not involve hydrolysis. This hydrogen is expected to sell at a lower cost and have a lower carbon footprint than current methods.
Lemna (Gilbert, Ariz.) – Provides a comprehensive nutrient management solution for agricultural wastewater through the use of duckweed (aquatic plants) in a controlled growth system. The duckweed also has the potential to provide farmers with a new revenue stream.
ReproHealth Technologies (Indianapolis, Ind.) – An innovative, patent-pending device that brings IVF technology to the farm. Founders believe the device could potentially double cattle embryo production and reduce reproduction costs.

Dairy Food Products and Dairy Processing Technology

Smack’d (Lehi, Utah) – Aims to develop a delicious adult chocolate milk beverage that is high in protein, low in sugar and caffeinated.
Lyras (Aalborg, Denmark) – Developed a UV-light cold pasteurization technology that uses 90% less energy and 60% less water compared to traditional pasteurization.

Since debuting six years ago, the DFA CoLAB Accelerator has worked with 32 companies and continues to work with the majority of these companies in some capacity. To date, 94% of the alumni companies are still in business today.

The 2022 DFA CoLAB Accelerator will culminate with a Demo Day presentation in late June, where the startups will pitch and showcase their ideas. For more information about the DFA CoLAB Accelerator, visit colab.dfamilk.com.

Painting a Fascinating Modern Agriculture Picture at the National Mall

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:00:00 GMT

The National Mall received a make-over earlier this month when the Association for Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) brought rural living to Washington D.C. The Nation’s Capital transformed with producers, agriculture corporations and others taking over the National Mall to help showcase how innovation enables sustainability.

“We think it’s really important for us to bring the message of modern agriculture to the audience that really needs to hear it,” said Curt Blades with the Association for Equipment Manufacturers. “And that’s the regulators, policymakers, elected officials, staff and, frankly, the general public.”

Cherishing how far modern agriculture has come was what this event was all about. The National Mall has deep-rooted ties to agriculture that goes back to 1868 when the first Department of Agriculture building opened on the Mall. In the late 1800s, the Mall was a place for scientific discovery, as much as education, and the Department of Agriculture grew experimental crops on the Mall. While the newer Agriculture building is now home only to administrative offices, the grounds were transformed to tell modern agriculture’s amazing story.

Although there weren’t any crops around the “Innovation Enables Sustainability” event, the visitors were given plenty of opportunities to learn and explore American agriculture, including two dairy equipment manufacturers who demonstrated how to milk a cow robotically.

State-of-the-art Technologies

Lely displayed their Astronaut A5 Robotic Milking System as well as the Vector automated feeding system at this event.

Chad Huyser, Lely North America President, says that any chance they can display the newest and best innovations that is across agriculture in a setting like the National Mall is a tremendous opportunity.

“Along with political partners and groups that came through, we had thousands upon thousands of general consumers and to be able to tell the story of modern agriculture and specifically the story of what our dairy producers are doing was amazing and time well spent,” Huyser shares.

Showcasing technology, companies like Lely were able to not only talk about innovation and technology being used on American dairy farms but also talk about animal welfare and sustainability in greater lengths.

“Visitors were astonished that technology exists and is in use, that can milk cows and feed cows robotically,” he says. “They also want to know how animals are cared for and what modern agriculture looks like.”

Huyser says some intentional discussions circled around sustainability, and Secretary Vilsack touched on that. “We relayed the messages of being good stewards with the resources that our producers have at their disposal and that farmers are really the original people that focused on sustainability.”

‘Abe Would Be Proud’

Vilsack took the stage to help celebrate National Ag Day, stating, “There’s no question there’s a tremendous amount of creativity and innovation that’s being viewed here today to give people an opportunity to understand the nature of the business, the commitment of American agriculture to innovation, creativity and sustainability.”

The Secretary of Agriculture reflected on the rich history of the USDA and stated, “As I thought about this tour today, I couldn’t help but ask myself, ‘I wonder what Abe would think?’”

Vilsack also shared that agriculture industries are working together, facing big challenges and big opportunities. “And we’re rising to the challenge, and I think Abe would be proud of us.”

Huyser concurs with the Secretary of Agriculture about U.S. farmers rising to meet challenges and says the focus on sustainability has also risen to focus on a more holistic approach.

“When you look at how you take care of the animal, for example, we allow that animal to live and develop and grow and produce in its most natural environment,” he states. “A lot of times these sustainability topics - from environmental, to animal care and more - are very much interrelated.”

Doing More with Less

Another leader in milking equipment, DeLaval, was also at the National Mall event. They displayed the DeLaval VMS™ milking system V300 to allow visitors to learn about the automated milking process and how the data produced for increased efficiencies lead to stronger sustainability practices on today’s dairy farms.

DeLaval Global Head of Sustainability, Fabian Bernal, says that the inaugural event helped paint an amazing picture of agriculture being at the back door of U.S. legislators.

“Normally we are preaching to the choir when you’re talking to producers and industry professionals,” he noted. “Being in our nation’s Capital with our cornerstone pieces of equipment in terms of sustainability and development of technology was amazing.”

DeLaval’s VMS robot was live with moving pieces and people passing through came by and could see it working in action. While they didn’t have a live cow being milked, visitors could see how the robot arm could be monitored by a smartphone and could watch the actual milking process on a video.

“We would give people a phone so they could operate the arm and they were amazed,” he says. “This was such a foreign, yet fascinating process for them to be engaged with.”

This further opened dialogue that breached on sustainability, something Bernal is very passionate about. Born in Colombia, Bernal’s career has specialized in animal welfare, sustainability, milk production, farm management and more.

“DeLaval made a commitment to sustainability 10 years ago and our mission today is exactly the same as it was back then,” he shares. “A lot of discussion on doing more with less.”

How sustainability is looked at has changed over the last decade. It’s not just pinpointed to the environmental impact. “The language that we use around sustainability has been clear, the science around sustainability is much more precise, and estimations of sustainability are no longer looking at just the environmental side,” Bernal says. “We look at sustainability through three pillars – environmental, food safety and animal welfare, and social and economics.”

Bernal agrees with Huyser, stating sustainability is looked at from a more holistic viewpoint. “It’s better understood if we take in consideration the economics of the farm, the animal welfare, food safety and the environment,” Bernal says. “I think all are so interconnected and they all must be addressed.”

The transformed National Mall celebrated agriculture in a big way in 2022, leaving lasting impressions on those that otherwise would never see just how technology and sustainability are threaded together to help feed the world.

AEM and more than three dozen partner organizations, including Lely and DeLaval hosted the celebration, which they hope will be the first of many more.

Checkoff Works with Entrepreneurs to Build a Preferred Future for Dairy

Wed, 05 May 2021 17:30:59 GMT

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has recently announced that they have entered a partnership with Venture Winston Grants, who will provide access to a network of entrepreneurs tasked with providing marketplace solutions for industry challenges focused on health and sustainability.

Venture Winston Grants created a competition that will allow startup companies to apply for funding, allowing them to incorporate dairy into the areas of health and nutrition, biobased products, “smart” communities of the future or regenerative agriculture.

The DMI partnership with Venture Winston Grants is one example of the broader checkoff-led strategy, Dairy Transformation, which includes farmers and leaders from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and others outside of dairy to examine ways the industry can remain viable in the future.

“Our mission is to build a preferred future for dairy,” Dwyer Williams, chief transformation officer for DMI says. “We want to disrupt the marketplace before we’re disrupted and that requires looking for unexpected partners outside of the dairy industry. This Venture Winston Grants partnership allows us to identify new ideas on what the next big thing is for dairy that will provide exciting opportunities for farmers.”

Missouri dairy farmer and chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, Alex Peterson, has worked closely with Dairy Transformation and wholeheartedly believes that the partnership with Venture Winston Grants is a tremendous first step to help build that preferred future for dairy. “As fast as the world is spinning, if you are not leaning into new opportunities, they will lean elsewhere,” Peterson says. “This Dairy Transformation push is going to bring new cutting-edge partners of tomorrow to dairy’s table to help us explore new ideas to drive our dairy good story to the next level.”

Winston Salem has built a reputation as an entrepreneurial ecosystem and can provide startups with access to various resources and experts. It is expected they will announce official winners in January 2022. Dairy farmers and DMI also will be engaged with the entrepreneurs as they build out solutions.

Karen Barnes, co-founder of Venture Winston Grants, says they want farmers evaluating ideas and testing hypotheses and co-creating solutions with these startups. The company is estimating the timeframe to run between two and three years to have concepts commercialized and in the marketplace. “I’m a 1,000% optimist and when I look at the sectors where DMI is concentrating, I see great promise,” Barnes says. “What excites me is this is all coming together as a holistic picture. It’s not about solving just one problem. It’s about taking a 360-degree approach and that’s how you solve problems on a broad scale.”

Peterson is equally as excited not only as a board member for national checkoff, but as a dairy farmer who contributes to checkoff. “Our story with nutrition and sustainability is promising and startups want to put their capital into green efforts, as well as child nutrition.”

With more than 100 years behind the National Dairy Council, the promise of dairy’s sustainable and nutritional benefit is not just a tagline, but something this partnership hopes will propel new ventures to generate a new level of energy towards dairy’s future. “It’s like bringing the next generation back to the family farm. The ideas and energy this partnership can provide are endless,” Peterson adds.

Dairy Carbon Footprint 2% of U.S. Total

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:07:47 GMT

Large dairy operations tend to have lower green house gas footprints because of more efficient feed conversion.

Ten research papers and one editorial in the International Dairy Journal confirm the dairy industry’s carbon footprint is 2% of the U.S. total.

According to the life-cycle assessment, which looks at carbon emissions all the way from fertilizer production through consumers’ refrigerators, dairy greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be 2.05 kg carbon dioxide equivalent for every kilogram of fat- and protein-corrected milk.

“This work is noteworthy for its comprehensiveness in looking at every stage of the fluid milk life cycle and for its data collection method,” says an editorial which leads off the special Supplement to the April issue of the International Dairy Journal. More than 500 U.S. dairy farms submitted data.

“Based on the amount of milk produced in the United States, the dairy industry accounts for approximately 2% of the total U.S. GHG emissions,” says the editorial. This is about a third less than the global dairy industry’s GHG output, which contributes 2.7% of global emissions.

One of the papers included in the Supplement notes that large dairy operations tend to have lower GHG footprints because of more efficient feed conversion. But their use of lagoons for manure storage is one area where losses occur and more efficiency could be gained, if it could be done cost effectively.

The entire set of papers can be found here .

Robotic Shot Injection System Under Development For Dairy

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 20:30:11 GMT

If you’re looking to improve the accuracy and efficiency of your vaccination program and record keeping, you may want to check out an up-and-coming robotic injection system called SureShot. Currently under development by Pharm Robotics, San Jacinto, Calif., the system is being designed to automate the shot delivery and data management process, according to Marinus Dijkstra, CEO, and Alexander (Alika) Chuck, CFO, company co-founders.

The partners say the automated system will reduce the amount of labor required to administer shots, thereby reducing out-of-pocket costs, while improving herd health and production outcomes in the process.

“By automating this tedious process and data management, farmers can be assured that their cows have received the required shot protocol, and they will no longer have to enter the data by hand,” reports Dijkstra.

Chuck says dairy producers can expect financial benefits totaling up to $285 per cow per year from using the technology. The number is based on a savings of $85 per cow from reduced labor costs and up to $200 from improved pregnancy rates and milk output.

How the system will work: As cows leave the milking parlor, they will enter an exit lane with a series of automated gates. As they pass through the gates, an RFID system will track the identification number and medical history of each animal and determine whether she needs a vaccination or reproductive hormone. If not, the gates will remain open to the animal and allow her to pass through. If a shot is needed, the gates will close to keep the animal stationary, and a robotic arm will then administer the required shot in the animal’s neck.

A video demonstrating how SureShot will work, along with other informational resources, is available for viewing at https://wefunder.com/pharmrobotics

A standard training program: Chuck says a multi-phase process will be put into place to help dairy producers introduce and acclimate cows to the system, once installed.

“We anticipate installing the system and robot a couple of weeks ahead of making it operational, so the cows can familiarize themselves with it,” explains Chuck. “We also will provide mock shots initially with a rubber stint touching the cow’s skin and then, once the animal is comfortable, we will switch over to the actual shots.”

Chuck says the robotic injection system will be sold through a series of independent dealers and will retail for a base price of $300,000. Pharm Robotics is working with Siemens to automate and manufacture SureShot.

Pharm Robotics has an equity crowdfunding campaign currently underway, in partnership with Dairy Farmers of America.

Consumer Education On and Off the Farm

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:46:04 GMT

By: Mary Dunckel, Michigan State University Extension

With 98 percent of the population removed from modern agriculture, connecting to consumers is critically important. Survey data from the Michigan State University Extension Breakfast on the Farm program shows that farmers are respected as being trustworthy sources of information. Here are some practical ideas for farmers who want to help educate consumers in their communities:

Farm tours or other on-farm events
Opening your doors for farm tours, ice cream socials with neighbors and legislator visits provides visitors with a first-hand look at modern agriculture. Education in a transparent format provides the public an opportunity to see what happens on the farm, ask questions and develop trust in farmers and the food produced. These tours and events can form lasting bonds between farmers and consumers.

School visits
Offer to read a book about farming or take a little bit of the farm to the school. A piece of equipment, calf, lamb or small animal will grab the students’ attention and give you the perfect opportunity to share your farming story. There may be a wooden cow in your community that can be borrowed and taken to school along with samples of milk, cheese, ice cream or yogurt.

Library displays
Books, audio tapes, DVDs and even works of art at local libraries can be used to help consumers of all ages understand more about agriculture. Helping your local library incorporate these into displays will create interest in learning more about agriculture. March is the perfect time to do this as National Agriculture Day is right around the corner on March 25.

Fairs, farmers markets
County fairs and farmers markets attract large audiences and many of the visitors attend with hopes of learning more about agriculture. At the fair, they want to get close to the animals; see the carrots, corn and cabbage vying for blue ribbons and climb aboard a tractor. At the market, they want to meet farmers and purchase locally grown and raised food. Consider talking to your local fair board or market master about providing a display of the commodities produced in the area, setting up “A taste of Agriculture” activity that is complete with food samples or offering to do agriculture related activities with the kids, such as making butter.

Service club presentations
Many service clubs incorporate educational presentations during their club meetings. When invited, take advantage of the opportunity to share your passion for farming. You can keep the presentation simple and short. Begin by introducing yourself and completing the statement: “I farm because_______. A panel discussion with farmers representing a variety of commodities can also be very impactful. Whatever the approach, it is important to encourage questions from the audience.

In-store education
Point of purchase education is a great way to meet and talk to consumers. Whether it is in the dairy department, the meat case or in the produce section, consumers have questions about the food choices available. So why not ask your local grocery store or supermarket if you can spend time in the store interacting with consumers and answering their questions? Grab the shopper’s attention with a display, food sample or by wearing a name tag that says “Ask me, I’m a farmer”.

Welcome conversations wherever you are
Whether you are at the gas station, in the dentist’s chair or at the post office welcome conversations and always be ready to answer questions about farming. To build consumer trust in the food system, it is important for farmers to stay informed, actively listen, invite and embrace dialogue.

New US Beef Brand Now Being Sold in UK Causes a Stir

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:33:26 GMT

cSociety chief executive Ron McHattie said Black Angus had nothing to do with Aberdeen-Angus, the breed developed in the north-east and which is now renowned globally for the quality of its marbled beef.

The Black Angus breed in the US does, however, originate from the Aberdeen-Angus.

The original Aberdeen-Angus cattle imported into the US in the late 1800s were crossed with the Texas Longhorn to produce the Black Angus, a breed more suited to the warmer conditions in the US.

Tesco said it was buying the beef from Windom, Minnesota, from an existing supplier. It is shipped chilled from the US and then packed by one of its key suppliers in the UK.

A spokeswoman said: “At the moment the range includes ribeye and sirloin steaks. The animals are all USDA (US Department of Agriculture) certified Black Angus and during their lives have a diet of grass and corn. The key benefit to this particular product is the consistency of the meat and the way it is marbled to give our customers a tender and flavoured product.”

NFU Scotland said Scottish farmers may well raise an eyebrow at the arrival of the beef from the US and over which there had until recently been a longstanding trade war with the European Commission because of the hormones used in American beef production.

Union spokeswoman Wendy Fleming said it understood from discussions with Tesco that the beef would not be sold in its Scottish stores.

She added: “Aberdeen-Angus is an iconic Scottish cattle breed, famed the world over for its quality. Those involved in the breed would want reassurance that any imported product bearing the Angus name is going to preserve the reputation of the breed.

“With the quality of beef production in Scotland, Scottish beef producers, regardless of the breed of cattle that they use, are well placed to meet the requirements of any supermarket’s premium beef range.”

The US and EU settled their differences in 2009 after a 13-year dispute. Europe banned imports because of concerns about the hormones regularly used in North American beef production and the possible human health concerns they posed.

That resulted in a trade war in which the US imposed import tariffs on a range of European goods.

The resolution reached allows the US to progressively increase its exports of hormone-free beef into the EU over four years.

Tesco said its Black Angus beef was free of hormones.

Checkoff Encourages Proactive Approach to Beef Quality Assurance

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:32:07 GMT

Source: Beef Checkoff Program news release

The beef checkoff continues to encourage beef and dairy producers to be proactive when it comes to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA): learning about best practices and how to utilize them to help produce safe, wholesome beef for consumers.

The BQA program is designed to provide standards and practices for high-quality beef cattle production. These science-based protocols are coupled with day-to-day, common sense husbandry practices. BQA raises consumer confidence by demonstrating a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry — not just at the feedlot or packing plant.

“Consumers tell us they see farmers and ranchers as good, stand-up kind of people with integrity. But, these same consumers are worried about where their food comes from and how it’s produced,” says John Maas, DVM, chair of the checkoff’s Producer Education committee from Clarksburg, Calif. “That’s where BQA comes into play — by instilling a level of competency. By following BQA guidelines, we’re demonstrating to consumers that we’re doing the right thing.”

To help farmers and ranchers better understand the claims anti-agriculture activists and detractors make about animal care in the beef industry, the checkoff recently created a video that helps to frame discussions about the importance of BQA certification and of cattlemen telling their animal care story in a variety of venues. Watch the video online now .

In addition, the new checkoff-funded www.bqa.org website is well-organized, user-friendly and designed to be the one place to go to learn more about BQA. The interactive site includes many training videos and resources previously not available online. The site also contains an interactive map highlighting each of the state coordinators including contact information. The website provides useful and helpful reference tools for all industry stakeholders who want to keep up-to-date on guidelines for beef cattle production.

Also available starting this fall, for producers who want to be proactive in becoming BQA-certified, many states are offering an online certification process .

“BQA is a significant part of the equation for building consumer trust in beef,” concludes Maas. “BQA certification guarantees that farmers and ranchers have followed a recommended protocol when producing their animals. And, it’s the right thing to do.”

For more information about BQA, contact your state BQA coordinator or visit mybeefcheckoff.com/bqa. For more about your checkoff investment, visit mybeefcheckoff.com .

Should You Really Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast?

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:02:19 GMT

My toddler would love it if every morning she got to have ice cream for breakfast. Well, studies show that might not be a bad idea. In fact, one study found eating ice cream every morning can significantly boost your mental performance and alertness. However, there’s more to the story as you might have guessed.

“A possible explanation [for increased alertness] is the simple presence of consuming breakfast vs. not consuming breakfast,” said Katie Barfoot, a Nutritional Psychology Doctoral Researcher at Reading University. “Our brain needs glucose to function, and a high glucose meal will aid mental capacity considerably compared to a fasted brain.”

Cold and sugar will perk you up, but make regular meals of them and you’ll ruin your health, according to a story from Business Insider.

“This [study], however, does not condone eating dessert for breakfast,” Barfoot warned. “A study which explores the interaction between consumption of low and high GI foods, whilst including a fasted group, would establish a better understanding of this increased mental capacity.”

So for the time being, my two-year-old will be stuck with yogurt for breakfast, and we’ll be saving ice cream for a sweet treat.

New Mycogen BMR Corn Hybrid Promises 7% Feed Efficiency Gain

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:01:12 GMT

Mycogen Seeds unveiled its new “Unified” corn silage hybrid this week here at World Dairy Expo, with trials showing a 7% improvement in feed efficiency and 10 lb. more energy corrected milk compared to conventional corn hybrids.

The “Unified” line comes with “SilaSoft” technology, which delivers a soft kernel for improved starch digestibility. So the dual digestible BMR line now offers both high fiber and starch digestibility. “Whole-plant digestibility helps increase dry matter intake, delivers more energy and improves rumen health, which translates to more milk and better components,” says Rachael Christiansen, silage portfolio marketing leader for Mycogen.

Research with the new hybrid at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, N.Y., showed a 7% increase in butterfat and a 13% jump in protein when compared to conventional corn hybrids. “Through the research, we saw the advantage of having a product that combines both fiber and starch digestibility into one product,” says Rick Grant, president of Miner Institute. “Producers should be able to feed higher forage diets, have more flexibility in how they formulate rations and feed the rumen more efficiently.”

The SilaSoft technology with its softer kernel offers a more forgiving harvest window as well. “It also enables earlier feed-out since the softer kernel requires less fermentation time,” says Jim Henry, Dairy Development Manager for Mycogen’s western region. “Producers are seeing positive results when feeding just six weeks after harvest. That is a big advantage when managing inventory.”

Unified corn silage hybrids will be available in limited quantities for the 2018 crop year, with maturities ranging from 95 to 114 days. More seed should be available for the 2019 season.

Dean Wants to Move Its Menu Beyond Milk With Juice, Ice Cream

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:00:35 GMT

Dean Foods Co., the largest U.S. dairy processor, is looking beyond its trademark milk and other signature products as it seeks to diversify and grow, according to the chief executive officer.

“We have to diversify,” Ralph Scozzafava, who became CEO of the Dallas-based company last month, said in a telephone interview on Thursday. “We have got a pretty wide lens.”

Scozzafava, previously a vice president at WM Wrigley Jr. Co. who came to Dean in 2014, said the company is pushing growth in its core dairy business through products such as ice cream, flavored milk and sour cream, but also sees potential in juices, teas and possibly plant-based beverages. Dean is eyeing food and beverages that it can process in its plants or store and haul in its refrigerated warehouses or trucks. The company may seek new products through internal development and by buying companies, Scozzafava said.

U.S. per-capita milk consumption has declined in recent years as buyers sought alternatives. To battle the slump, Dean has introduced several dairy products to shore up volume. In 2015, it introduced the DairyPure milk brand, which is tested for antibiotics and contains no artificial growth hormones, to counter competition from organic milk and soy- and almond-based substitutes. A few years earlier it introduced TruMoo flavored milk.

Earnings Miss

While both of these products have helped, volumes and profits still have disappointed. Dean shares slumped the most since March on Thursday after it projected 2017 profit that missed analysts’ estimates and forecast total volumes will decline by about 1 percent in the first quarter. Fourth-quarter profit also disappointed. The company is expected to lose some business in the Midwest when Wal-Mart Stores Inc. begins producing milk at a plant planned in Indiana.

Dean fell 8.1 percent to $18.80 Thursday in New York, the biggest loss since March 22.

Scozzafava said his goal is growth that drives earnings and cash flow, not just volume and market share. The focus is on running like a packaged food or beverage company with a variety of brands, he said.

“If you don’t make money in new volume and share, it’s fool’s gold,” he said.

As the company expands beyond conventional milk, its range of products is starting to look more like WhiteWave Foods Co., which Dean spun off in 2013. WhiteWave makes Silk plant-based beverages, Horizon organic milk and International Delight iced coffee. Danone in July announced it plans to buy WhiteWave.

Ice Cream

The company has already taken steps to diversify. Last year, it announced it would introduce a ready-to-drink iced coffee in partnership with Caribou Coffee Co. In June, it purchased Friendly’s Ice Cream LLC’s retail ice cream and manufacturing business for $155 million and announced a partnership with independent farmer cooperative CROPP to process and distribute certain Organic Valley milk products in November.

“We anticipate Dean Foods will continue to rebuild a value-added product portfolio” that could include organic, extended shelf-life and flavored products, Farha Aslam, a New York-based analyst for Stephens Inc., said in a telephone interview Thursday. The company will probably use its refrigerated distribution network, one of its competitive advantages, she said.

Dean is seeing more in the deal pipeline since the Friendly’s deal, Scozzafava said on a call with analysts Thursday.

“We are open for business,” he said. “Folks who have a business to sell know that they can call us and it’s not a wasted phone call. And I think that’s important.”

Dairy Heifer Inventory Drops to 4.75 Million Head

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 03:00:11 GMT

On Tuesday, USDA released its cattle inventory report . The report showed there are 4.75 million milk replacement heifers. According to Mike North of Commodity Risk Management Group , that’s more than half of the milking herd.

North told Market Rally Radio host Chip Flory the heifer number hasn’t seen numbers that large since 1985, and it has been growing at a pace of 2.5 percent year-over-year.

Milk production is likely to stay strong because of an “increase in components that offset the loss in fluid production.” He says this production isn’t going to end any time soon and U.S. dairy producers are going to have to start exporting their products.

“Demand at home is not going to get the job done,” said North.

Listen to North discuss the “massive discount” applied to Holsteins, the large heifer herd, and U.S. demand on Market Rally above.

Saputo Wins Control of Warrnambool in Australian Dairy Chase

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:59:44 GMT

Canada’s biggest milk processor has won control of Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Co., Australia’s oldest dairy producer.

Saputo Inc., Canada’s biggest milk processor, won control of Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Co. as it secured more than half of the shares in Australia’s oldest dairy producer following a three-way tussle.

Montreal-based Saputo holds 52.7 percent of Warrnambool, the maker of Sungold milk, it said today in a statement. The deadline for the offer that values Warrnambool at a maximum of A$537 million ($475 million) will be extended by two weeks. It had been scheduled to close by 7 p.m local time today.

Warrnambool, which also makes Great Ocean Road cheese, has more than doubled in market value since an initial bid by Bega Cheese Ltd. in September began a contest for the company with Saputo and Melbourne-based Murray Goulburn Cooperative Co.

“Saputo has to find financial gains in Asia to justify a large purchase here as a beachhead acquisition,” said Paul Jensz, a Melbourne-based analyst at PAC Partners Pty. “It’s a stretch from a financial point of view.”

Victoria-state based Warrnambool rose 1.2 percent to A$9.42 at the close of Sydney trading.

Buying Warrnambool gives Saputo export infrastructure and production capacity to meet rising demand for dairy in Asia. Milk consumption will jump 27 percent between 2012 and 2020 to 14 billion liters in Southeast Asia’s six-largest economies, agricultural researcher Rabobank said in a July report.

Increasing Offer

Saputo will pay a maximum of A$9.60 a share in cash should it gain more than 90 percent of Warrnambool, it said Dec. 17 in a statement. After securing more than 50 percent of Warrnambool, Saputo will pay A$9.20 a share, which will rise to A$9.40 should it obtain more than 75 percent, it said today in a separate statement.

Bega, which withdrew its offer last month for the dairy producer, said on Jan. 16 it had agreed to sell its 18.8 percent stake to Saputo.

Saputo should seek to secure Murray Goulburn’s 17.66 percent stake and Kirin Holdings Co.’s 10 percent interest in Warrnambool, Jensz said. Murray Goulburn is the producer’s second-largest shareholder and Kirin is the third biggest, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Murray Goulburn has offered A$9.50 a share in a bid that requires approval from the Australian Competition Tribunal.

“Given Saputo’s offer period is automatically extended for a further 14 days, Murray Goulburn will now commercially assess this development,” it said today in a statement.

Leela Sutton, a spokeswoman for Lion, Kirin’s Australian unit, declined to comment on the company’s intentions.

California Dairy Co-op Expands Product Portfolio

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:58:11 GMT

California Dairies Inc. enters a new export category with anhydrous milkfat production.

Source: California Dairies Inc.

VISALIA, Calif. — Building upon a successful powdered milk and butter export business, California Dairies, Inc. (CDI) has diversified its butterfat offerings with the addition of anhydrous milkfat (AMF) to its export product portfolio. The entry into a new export category demonstrates CDI’s progress in achieving its vision to become the leading source of dairy nutrition for a healthy world.

Responsive to a strong global demand for U.S. dairy products, CDI is consistently looking for ways to distinguish itself through the delivery of products that the world demands. The production of AMF is natural extension of CDI’s butter portfolio and meets the needs of its international customers for butterfat in a different form.

“Expanding CDI’s product portfolio to include AMF is a natural fit and increases our presence in the global marketplace. Keeping the world healthy by delivering dairy ingredients and products of real benefit will grow market share and create value for CDI member-owners,” said Andrei Mikhalevsky, CDI CEO. “Building on existing strengths, we will continue to target attractive and attainable opportunities to preserve our autonomy and increase our growth prospects.”

AMF is 99.8 percent pure butter oil. Packaged for commercial use as a food ingredient, AMF has an extended shelf life and is an excellent form for storage and transportation of butterfat.

California Dairies, Inc. is the largest member-owned milk marketing and processing cooperative in California, producing 47 percent of California’s milk. Co-owned by more than 430 dairy producers who ship 18 billion pounds of Real California Milk annually, California Dairies, Inc. is a manufacturer of quality butter, fluid milk products and milk powders. In addition, California Dairies, Inc. is the home of two leading and well-respected brands of butter – Challenge and Danish Creamery. California Dairies’ quality dairy products are available in all 50 United States and in more than 50 foreign countries. For additional information on California Dairies, Inc., visit www.californiadairies.com .

Dairy Prices Expected to Remain Firm on China’s Strong Appetite

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:58:07 GMT

China is buying at unprecedented levels, supporting the entire dairy complex.

By Alan Levitt, Marc Beck and Brad Gehrke, U.S. Dairy Export Council

The global dairy markets remain firm heading into February. Milk production from the major suppliers is on the rise, but it’s easily absorbed by the market. China is buying at unprecedented levels, supporting the entire dairy complex.

Mild weather and record-high milk prices have spurred a milk production recovery across Europe. EU-28 milk deliveries in October and November were up 4.2% vs. a year earlier, and now look poised to finish calendar 2013 about 0.7% ahead of 2012 (adjusted for leap day).

In the September-November period, 18 of the 28 countries registered increases, led by Germany (+3.9% vs. prior year), the UK (+8.5%), France (+4.0%), the Netherlands (+7.7%) and Ireland (+12.7%).

New Zealand pastures are in good condition and production is ahead of a year ago. In the September-November period output was up 6.0% from prior year. Production for the full 2013/14 is projected to be up 6-7%. However, drought in Australia has dashed hopes of growth this year. Output in the first five months of the season was down 3.9%.

U.S. milk production hasn’t yet responded to favorable milk margins; in the last four months of 2013, production was up just 0.5% from the year before. Combined milk production/deliveries from the five major suppliers (EU-28, U.S., New Zealand, Australia and Argentina) were up 2.7% in the August-November period – an increase of 618,000 tons of milk per month.

China buying remains the key driver of the global dairy markets. In the last four months of 2013, China imported a staggering 550,404 tons of milk powder, whey, cheese and butterfat – more than the purchases of Russia, Mexico, Japan and Algeria put together. This figure is up 74% from the year before. For the full year, imports were up 34% from 2012 and up 61% from 2011.

Meanwhile, China’s appetite (and willingness to pay historically high prices) has squeezed out other buyers in recent months. In the August-October period, Algeria imports were down 32% from the year before and Mexico’s were off 14%. In August-November, Japan’s imports were down 8%. In situations where buyers aren’t willing or able to meet what China is willing to pay, we see more interest in fat-filled milk powders and other economic milk solids replacers for various applications.

International prices are mostly steady, with some adjustments in butterfat (European prices coming down and Oceania prices coming up to narrow the gap). Trading activity has picked up since the holiday lull. End-user stocks are low. Buyers are looking to secure second-quarter needs, having held off in hopes of lower prices that haven’t materialized. There is little uncommitted supply available. The market also is supported by an upcoming milk powder tender from Algeria, where EU suppliers hope to secure a good portion of the business. In addition, domestic production in China and India is impacted by foot-and-mouth disease, adding to the overall firm market tone.

The dry whey market has firmed in recent months and prices are now at their highest in nearly a year. WPC 34/35 is now selling for record highs, around $4000/ton, nearly 50% since last March. Prices have been pulled up by the strength in SMP. Supplies in Europe and the United States are tight, with production sold out several months ahead. The lactose market, on the other hand, remains soft, with prices at a two-and-a-half-year low.

Global Dairy Trade auction prices reached record highs at the Jan. 21 event. The average winning price was $5,025, up 46% from a year ago. Moreover, the forward curve remains flat to higher, suggesting strong prices through mid-year. WMP traded for nearly $5,000/ton out to June, and winning prices for SMP and AMF are around $4,700/ton and $5,700/ton, respectively, to July.

Questions remain about how quickly China’s milk production can recover after a challenging 2013. Weather issues, foot-and-mouth disease and industry restructuring led to a contraction estimated very loosely at 6% below 2012 output. Even if weather improves in 2014, some of the structural issues will take longer to settle. For now, the expectation is a further double-digit increase in imports in 2014, on top of the massive purchases made in 2013.

As a result, we expect the markets to remain firm well into second quarter, at least. New Zealand is now on the downhill side of the season, and production is focused on WMP at the expense of cheese, SMP and butter. As China’s appetite is sated, other buyers will still need to stay in the market to rebuild their holdings. However, they may not be willing to buy at the lofty price levels of the Chinese.

Dairy Exporters Must Register to Sell to China

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 02:58:00 GMT

Wisconsin companies that export dairy products to China must register with the Food and Drug Administration as part of a process aimed at improving food safety in China.

The FDA will provide China with a list of companies that have been inspected and licensed. That will be around April 30.

Al Levitt, of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, says the requirement comes from China’s desire to improve food safety and be able to trace where food comes from when there are problems. He says companies that are already export probably meet the registration requirements, which include recent plant inspections.

Wisconsin has more than 400 licensed dairy plants. DATCP says at least 100 meet export list requirements.

China is the third largest destination for Wisconsin dairy products behind Mexico and Canada.

Source: Associated Press