Your Nominations Needed for 2013 Indiana Dairy Producer of the Year Awards!

Again in 2013, Indiana Dairy Producers will be awarding the Indiana Dairy Producer of the Year
and the Indiana Young Dairy Producer of the Year Awards. These awards are to recognize
outstanding accomplishment, professionalism, and leadership among Indiana's dairy producers.
Award recipients will be announced at the IDP annual meeting on February 11, 2013 and also
during the Indiana Regional Dairy Meetings.

The Indiana Dairy Producer of the Year is awarded to a dairy producer who has portrayed the
dairy industry in a positive light and has been successful in the dairy industry over a period of
time. Past recipients were Fred Beer (2007), Tom Neuenschwander (2008), Doug Leman (2009), Dave Forgey (2010), Brian Rexing (2011) and Leontien Van de Laar (2012).

The Indiana Young Dairy Producer of the Year is awarded to a dairy producer, 35 years of age or
younger, who is actively involved in a successful dairy farm and shows promise as a leading dairy producer for this industry's bright future in Indiana. Past recipients were Lukas Hively (2007), Joe and Amy Kelsay (2008), Max and Carrie Jo Bollenbacher (2009), Nathan and Sarah Kuehnert (2010) Kerry and Christiana Estes (2011), and Kelly MacKennon (2012).

IDP's extension and dairy specialists select the Oustanding Dairy Producer and Outstanding Young Dairy Producer of the Year from nominations submitted.

The deadline for submission is January 15, 2013. Please take the time to fill out a nomination form here and send to Dr. Mike Schutz. Details are on the nomination form.

We are excited to welcome Dupont Pioneer as our newest Gold level sponsor! You can read more about them below. Please consider their innovative products and services as you make decisions on your dairy farm. 

 

    Plenty has changed since our founding in 1926. One thing that hasn't is our guiding principle - our success is based on our customers' success. That belief has helped us become a leading developer and supplier of plant genetics to farmers worldwide. And it's helped those farmers boost productivity, profitability and sustainability.

   Pioneer Hi-Bred is a DuPont business. And while we now serve customers in more than 90 countries, we're headquartered in Iowa - right where we have been since 1926.

   From feed to plant, Pioneer utilizes industry-leading research, agronomic and nutritional expertise to provide the entire range of seed genetics, crop-specific forage additives, silage know-how and local service - all dedicated to the goal of meeting the feed needs of your livestock operation.

   For more information on DuPont Pioneer's products and dairy, livestock and nutrition offerings, go to www.pioneer.com.  There you can utilize the inoculant value calculator, nutrition library and more on bunker management.   

 

America's Milk Business in in a "Crisis"
The Wallstreet Journal, Dec. 11, 2012
By IAN BERRY And KELSEY GEE

 

 

In an age of vitamin waters and energy drinks, the decadeslong decline in U.S. milk consumption has accelerated, worrying dairy farmers, milk processors and grocery chains.

 

The industry "is coming to recognize this as a crisis," says Tom Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., a farmer-funded trade group that promotes milk products. "We cannot simply assume that we will always have a market."

 

Per-capita U.S. milk consumption, which peaked around World War II, has fallen almost 30% since 1975, even as sales of yogurt, cheese and other dairy products have risen, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics. The reasons include the rise in popularity of bottled waters and the concern of some consumers that milk is high in calories.

 

Another factor, according to the USDA, is that children, who tend to be heavy milk drinkers, account for a smaller share of the U.S. population than they once did.

 

To revive sales, milk companies and retailers are pushing smaller, more-convenient packages and health-oriented varieties, including protein-enhanced milk aimed at fitness buffs. Read more. 

 

Purdue Extension is planning a series of farm succession planning workshops, located in 10 different locations throughout the state of Indiana. Entitled, "Cultivating Strong Indiana Farm Family Relationships for Today and Tomorrow," this relevant topic is sure to help farm families deal responsibly with what can be a very difficult situation. Click here to download a workshop brochure with details.

Coca-cola ups dairy ante with stake in Core Power

Coca-Cola Co (KO.N) is taking an ownership stake in the maker of the Core Power protein drink as the world's largest soft drink company increases its bet on milk-based beverages.

   The move, announced by Coke on Tuesday, is the latest proof that the battle between Coke and PepsiCo Inc (PEP.N) has expanded into the dairy arena, which has attracted soft drink makers looking to add nutritional drinks to their portfolios.

Coca-Cola said it and Select Milk Producers Inc, a cooperative of dairy farmers, were taking equal stakes in the Core Power maker, which will now be known as Fair Oaks Farms Brands LLC.

   Coke started distributing Core Power in select areas earlier this year. Made from milk, Core Power is marketed as a high-protein muscle recovery drink meant to be consumed after a workout. It competes with Muscle Milk, which is distributed by PepsiCo.

Coca-Cola spokeswoman Kerry Tressler would not say how big the stakes are, but said the investment, by the company's Venturing and Emerging Brands unit, could increase over time. Like a venture capital arm, that unit has invested in, and helped grow, other small brands including Honest Tea and Zico Coconut Water.

   In addition to Core Power, Coke said it wanted to create "an innovative portfolio of brands and products that feature the value-added nutrition of dairy." Read the full article here. 

A dairy farmer recently received a letter from a company identified as FDA Registrar Corporation, Hampton, Virginia, offering to complete an FDA food facility registration for the price of $195. Click here to read an example of the phony solicitation.

As a dairy farmer, you need to know that your farm is not required to register with the Food and Drug Administration as a food facility. In fact, farms are exempt from this registration process. The FDA's Registration of Food Facilities Final Rule, 21 CFR �� 1.225-1.243, requires owners and operators of all domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food that will be consumed in the United States to register with U.S. FDA. As a food processor, Foremost Farms has completed the registration for each of our plants.

For more information, read the FDA's letter regarding FDA Registrar Corp. If you receive a similar letter, destroy it and take no action. Please call Doug Leman if you have any questions about this. We thank Foremost Farms USA for alerting us to this situation!

10 tips for families that farm together

   
   Maurice Loehmer operates a large dairy farm in Pulaski County. He has worked hard to improve not only his dairy management skills, but also his communication and leadership skills when working with employees.

   His son, Adam, was once part of the family dairy operation. Maurice and Adam finally realized they weren't meant to work together in the dairy business. Adam now operates his own grain farm and is in the trucking business.

   Since they no longer work together day-to-day, both men say their personal, family relationships have grown tremendously. Adam also enjoys talking to his dad about things other than cows.

   Since many families bring the next generation to the farm, the Loehmers were willing to share their information to perhaps shed insight for some other family going through the same process.

   Here are 10 tips that Maurice Loehmer offers for family members working together in farming operations:

1. Run the farm as a business.

2. New family employee. Before bringing a family member into the operation, first make sure there's a good relationship in place.

3. Work off the farm first.

4. Attention to spouses.

5. Separate farm and family.

6. Match strengths and weaknesses.

7. Don't assume facts not in evidence.

8. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

9.Build relationships, nurture relationships outside of work.

10. Call on professionals.

Download the full article here.

The drought of 2012 has been the worst in many decades and will result in poor crop yields 
or crop failures across wide areas of Indiana and the Midwest in general. Besides the obvious impacts on crop yields, there are other effects of the drought that farmers should consider as they look ahead to this fall and next season. Fall-planted cover crops would be a good investment for many farmers this year, to benefit both their own farms and regional water quality.

Study on Raw Milk Released

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has released the agency's study report on the sale of raw (unpasteurized) milk in the state of Indiana. During the 2012 legislative session, law makers tasked the agency with conducting a study of the issue, which has garnered increasing interest among some consumers.

 

"This has been a lengthy and educational process," said Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM. "We truly appreciate the input of the Advisory Panel members and the more than 800 individuals who contributed their opinions and ideas to this study. We feel the information in this report will be a great resource to lawmakers, should they decide to reconsider the issue of legalizing sales."

 

The final report has been delivered to the Governor, as well as the Legislative Council. Ultimately, the report will provide guidance to lawmakers, should they decide to legalize the sale of raw milk in the state of Indiana-a practice that is currently prohibited by law.

 

To view a copy of the report click here. 

 

Join the tremendous Extension resource, DAIReXNET for this session on Genomics to hear Dr. Dechow review genomic technology and implementation, comparisons of early genomic predictions to actual daughter proofs, a discussion of inbreeding, and how genomics can be used as a herd management tool.

When: January 14, 2013
12:00-1:00 PM Central Time, (1-2 Eastern Time)
Dr. Chad Dechow, Pennsylvania State University

December Grazing Bites
by Victor Shelton

It is the time of year that some may be dreaming of visions of sugar plums, but if you were a grazing animal, it might be more like visions of turnips and stockpiled grass! The rain we did receive the past three months revived perennial forages and where adequate "solar panel" was left behind - a lot more forage than normal. Perhaps it was the plant trying to meet its annual potential or the boost from a little stored nitrogen waiting to be utilized - either way, it was a much needed blessing.
I would encourage everyone to manage this forage efficiently. Allocating it out in smaller allotments, like briefly discussed last month, is certainly something worth pursuing. The smaller the allotment allocated; the shorter the grazing period...but the higher the efficiency. Read more.

Over the years we have organized many tours and events, and we have tried to take pictures at all of them. We frequently invite you to watch a picture slideshow, but if you want to see our albums on our flickr page, click here.