The first IPDP "Partners in Success" luncheon was a resounding success. As president of this developing organization, I was very grateful to welcome a room full of people that have an interest in seeing a strong dairy industry in Indiana. We took the opportunity to share what IPDP's value is to the dairy farmers of Indiana. Our new Executive Director, Butch Mercer, was able to highlight the benefits of sponsoring IPDP through corporate support. One of our key pillars at IPDP is to create opportunities for educational growth and foster an exchange of ideas. Ultimately, we wish to help dairy farmers gain greater profitability, balanced with regulatory compliance and increased quality of life. The launch of our website at www.IndianaDairy.org has helped us spread the word! If you haven't had a chance to visit, take a look soon!

Scott Higgins, CEO of Ohio Dairy Producers, inspired all who attended with his energetic response of the recent happenings in Ohio agriculture. Ohio has seen many challenges with animal rights groups, dairy farming practices that have had a negative impact on consumers, and animal care scrutiny with the establishment of the new Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Scott emphasized that working very closely with the established livestock and agriculture groups throughout the state was a real key for the pro-active response that Ohio was able to put forth. He certainly made a strong case for agriculture to stand together, find areas of agreement and work as a unified voice wherever possible.

I would especially like to thank the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Marketing Council for sponsorship of our IPDP Partners in Success luncheon and hosting the event in their home office. We are grateful for the strong corporate support we are realizing at IPDP.

We would also love to see additional dairy farming members join us! Help us spread the word. Ask your dairy farming friends if they are members of IPDP. If not, download a membership brochure (http://www.indianadairy.org/IPDPMembershipBrochure2010.pdf) and ask them to send their twenty bucks in, along with complete mailing address, number of cows milked and that all-important e-mail address! Not connected with email? Someone in the family probably is and would be willing to keep you updated. We do send hard-copy newsletters occasionally, but there is no doubt that it is easier to take advantage of IPDP's current updates by being connected electronically. That said, our 2011 regional dairy meetings are available to all, connected or not! Make plans to attend them: Feb. 22^nd in Goshen, Feb. 23^rd in Decatur, March 1^st in Warrenton, March 2^nd in Columbus, and March 3^rd in Rockville! There will be more information on these regional dairy meetings in upcoming e-updates and on our website.

We are looking forward to increasing IPDP's visibility in the coming months. Your suggestions are always welcome. I can be reached at lutroxel@IndianaDairy.org or give me a call at 219-508-3433.

LuAnn Troxel, President

Indiana Professional Dairy Producers

A born and bred Michigander, Terry Philibeck, Director of the Dairy Division

Terry Philibeck

at the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH), is no stranger to the dairy industry.  Terry was raised on a registered Holstein farm and exhibited his 4-H animals at the local county fair, District Black and White Show and UP State Fair.  After graduating from Michigan State University in 1977 with Bachelor degrees in Dairy Science and Vocational Agriculture Education, Terry began working for the Michigan Milk Producers Association where he advanced to the position of area supervisor.  Before joining BOAH in September 2007, Terry spent 12 years as the West Regional Manager for the Michigan Department of Agriculture Food and Dairy Division.  Terry currently lives in Zionsville, Indiana with his wife Katie, son Tom and daughter Stefanie and multiple pets.  Terry also serves as an advisor to Milk Promotion Services of Indiana and the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers, and the Indiana Milk Quality Professionals. 

Regulations Around the Sale or Distribution of Raw Milk
Indiana Board of Animal Health

Raw milk seems to be drawing a lot of attention lately.  Consumers are trying to find where to buy it.  Farmers are eyeing the profit margins.  And government agencies are trying to protect public health.  Proponents of the drink claim it has health benefits, although science has yet to support those statements.  Nationally, drinkers of raw milk are asking for the freedom to consume and purchase the milk as much as they would like.

In Indiana, state law clearly bans the sale of raw milk.  Indiana Code 15-18-1-3 states, "any person operating a dairy farm must obtain a permit from the Board of Animal Health prior to sending, receiving, storing, selling or offering for sale any milk or milk products in the state." 

A Colorado Costco cheese E. coli outbreak has sickened eight individuals in the state while federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat Bravo Farms Dutch-style Gouda cheese. Costco sold and offered the cheese as free samples for in-store tastings during a cheese road show from October 5 to November 1.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported additional cases of infectious organisms being transmitted through consumption of raw milk.

Raw milk consumed from Hartmann dairy farm in Sibley County has several people sick from two different infectious organisms, the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni and the parasite Crytosporidium parvum. These organisms were laboratory confirmed.

But these cases are only been the tip of the iceberg this year from raw milk consumption in the state. So far this year there have been 47 documented cases of foodborne illness from ingesting raw milk including an outbreak this summer with E.coli O157:H7 from raw milk.

National Milk Producers Federation announced last week it will seek a reduction in the maximum allowable somatic cell count for raw milk under the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance at the next meeting of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments beginning April 28, 2011, in Baltimore.

The proposed cut from the current 750,000 limit that has been in effect since July 1, 1993, to just 400,000 over a three-year period may look big, but the reality is that most dairies are already there.

The International Dairy Federation last week released "The World Dairy Situation 2010" report at the World Dairy Summit in Auckland, New Zealand. Highlights from this annual report include many details about world trends in milk production, processing, trade and consumption, as well as farm milk and wholesale dairy product prices. This year's version includes new chapters, including one on the leading dairy companies by region of the world.

The overarching issue in the dairy industry recently was the decline in international demand for dairy products, beginning in mid-2008 and lasting well into 2009. However, economic recovery around the world, as well as country-specific issues like the melamine crisis in China, resulted in a remarkable revival in world dairy trade beginning in the second half of 2009, and it continues today.

Read more...

A panel global dairy insiders says that the first half of 2011 could be troublesome for producers, but things will improve markedly by the second half-maybe.

A Southland entrepreneur believes he can save New Zealand one billion litres of water a day with his new dairy effluent system.
 
On farms across the country, the daily effluent from dairy animals ends up in huge 60-day holding ponds, until the paddocks are dry enough for dispersal.

But those ponds also use up water, so inventor Lindsay Lewis decided to create a more efficient way of dealing with effluent and reducing the water intake. Unlike the huge effluent ponds, Lewis' patented system, called The Weeping Wall, is much smaller and takes out 25% more solids than any other solid separator.

• Indiana Creamery License Division 
• Indiana Board of Animal Health
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management
• Indiana State Department of Agriculture
• Indiana Beef Cattle Association
• Milk Promotion Services of Indiana
• Growing Indiana Ag (GINA)