Economies of scale driving consolidation in U.S. dairy industry

Dairy farming in the U.S. has historically been a smallholder pursuit dominated by small, family-run farms, but over the last few decades, there has been a transition in the industry with the rise of large farms, according to Rabobank senior dairy analyst Thomas Bailey. This rise, he said, has brought with it a great deal of positive change, including reduced environmental impact through efficiency of production.

"The rise of large farms has picked up speed over the last decade as market volatility and industry changes have made dairy farming a more challenging but - if done right - more profitable practice, particularly for well-managed, large and efficient producers," Bailey said.

This increasing rate of change has boosted consolidation of U.S. milk production, putting increasing influence in the hands of large farms and sending ripples throughout the U.S. dairy industry, he explained.

"With large farms likely accounting for the majority of growth in the coming years, U.S. dairy producers and processors alike should be considering the potential impact of this change," Bailey said.

Chinese company cleared to purchase Australia's largest dairy

The Australian government announced today that it has approved the $280 million (Australian) sale of the land and assets of Tasmanian Land Co., including Van Diemen's Land Co. (VDL), from the New Plymouth District Council to Moon Lake Investments.

VDL is currently a foreign-owned company and has been since it was established on a royal land grant 190 years ago. The company milks 17,890 cows over an area of 7,062 hectares.

"In forming my view, I have carefully considered the national interest test and how it applies to this case, including the likely impact on local jobs and increased investment to support economic growth. In particular, the national interest test requires consideration of the impact on taxation revenue," Australia's treasurer Scott Morrison said.

According to Morrison, approval for Moon Lake's foreign investment application is the first to be subject to new conditions requiring it to comply with Australian taxation law, Australian Taxation Office directions to provide information in relation to the investment and to advise the taxation office if it enters into any transactions with non-residents to which the transfer pricing or anti-avoidance measures of the tax law may potentially apply.

Bacteria take 'RNA-mug shots' of dangerous viruses

Scientists from The University of Texas at Austin, the Stanford University School of Medicine and two other institutions have discovered that bacteria have a system that can recognize and disrupt dangerous viruses using a newly identified mechanism involving RNA that is similar to the CRISPR/Cas system that captures foreign DNA.

The discovery might lead to better ways to thwart viruses that kill agricultural crops and interfere with the production of dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.

The research appeared online Feb. 25 in the journal Science.

In humans and other organisms, DNA molecules act as the body's blueprints, while RNA molecules read those blueprints to build the body and maintain the functions of life.

The research team found, for the first time, that bacteria can snatch bits of RNA from invaders such as viruses and incorporate the RNA into their own genomes, using this information as something akin to mug shots. They then help the bacteria recognize and disrupt dangerous viruses in the future.
 
ADSA News and Happenings
ATTENTION:  You may have recently received an e-mail inviting you to participate in or present at the "International Dairy Meet and Expo".  Please be aware that ADSA/JAM is in no way involved with or connected to the OMICS International Dairy Meet & Expo planned for New Orleans in late June. Just as with a similar OMNICS event a couple of years ago, the JAM organizing team wants you to be aware that this event has no relationship with the 2016 JAM or with ADSA.
ADSA and FASS Sign AFRI Coalition Appropriations Letter
On February 23rd, the AFRI Coalition sent a letter to leaders of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee in support of funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program.  The letter requests that Congress provide $700 million for the AFRI program in fiscal year 2017.  This would bring the AFRI program to its fully authorized level and meet the President's FY 2017 budget request for the program.  Funding the AFRI program at $700 million would enable the support of high priority agricultural research including important areas within the animal sciences such as foreign animal disease and antibiotic resistance.  The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) and FASS were among 31 organizations that signed the coalition letter.  A copy of the letter can be found here.
 
Southwest Nutrition Conference added to S-PAC
We are pleased to announce the addition of Proceedings from the 2015 Southwest Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference to S-PAC. Subscribers now have 24/7 access to a total of 538 proceedings from 57 Conferences. Visit our website https://spac.adsa.org for a complete list of conferences. If you are not already a subscriber, today is a great time to join. A subscription discount is another of your ADSA member benefits.
 
New Commissioner of FDA
On Wednesday, February 24th, the United States Senate confirmed the nomination of Robert Califf, M.D. to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs. Dr. Califf was sworn into office on February 25th.  Dr. Califf has served since February 2015 as the FDA's Deputy Commissioner for Medical Products and Tobacco. He is a respected cardiologist and internationally known expert in cardiovascular medicine, health outcomes research, and clinical research. Prior to joining the FDA, Dr. Califf was a professor of medicine and vice chancellor for clinical and translational research at Duke University. He also served as director of the Duke Translational Medicine Institute and founding director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute.
Read more about Dr. Califf by visiting  www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/ucm452317.htm  

 
Here are 15+ reasons to attend the Large Dairy Herd Management Conference...where 96 topics will be presented in 15 sections (section chairs noted). Each presentation will be made twice, to maximize the opportunity for attendee input.
ARPAS Continuing Education Units
This conference has been approved for up to 20 continuing education units (CEUs) for the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) certification requirements.
Continuing Education (RACE) Credits for Veterinarians
This program will be submitted for approval by the AAVSB RACE Board for CE Credits available to any individual veterinarian or veterinary technician/technologist.
90 Day Free Access to S-PAC
The ADSA Foundation has added another benefit for attending.  A free 90 day trial of S-PAC will be included with your registration if you are not currently a subscriber. Current subscribers will have 90 days added to the length of their subscription
Early registration rates end at midnight March 15.
  1.   Large Herd Systems (S. P. Washburn)
  2.   Building Sustainability and Capacity (D. K. Beede)
  3.   Facilities and Environment (J. M. Zulovich and J. P. Harner)
  4.   Milk Markets and Marketing (N. R. St-Pierre)
  5.   Genetic Selection Programs and Breeding Strategies (K. A. Weigel)
  6.   Calves and Replacements (R. E. James)
  7.   Reproduction and Reproductive Management (W. W. Thatcher)
  8.   Nutrition and Nutritional Management (R. J. Grant and H. M. Dann)
  9.   Lactation and Milking Systems (R. M. Bruckmaier)
  10.  Mastitis and Milk Quality (J. S. Hogan)
  11.  Animal and Herd Welfare (T. DeVries)
  12.  Herd Health (C. A. Risco)
  13.  Business, Economic Analysis, Decision-Making (A. De Vries)
  14.  Effectively Managing Farm Employees (S. J. Moore and P. T. Durst)
  15. Precision Management Technologies (J. M. Bewley)
Don't forget to book your hotel soon, while rooms are still available at the conference hotel. For the latest information on the conference, go to http://www.adsa.org/Meetings/LargeDairyHerdManagement.aspx
Please contact Larry Miller for conference and e-book sponsorship opportunities.
Complete registration and conference information including the program is posted on the LDHM website:http://www.adsa.org/Meetings/LargeDairyHerdManagement.aspx
Register today!
        Large Dairy Herd Management Conference
        May 1-4, 2016
        Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, Oak Brook, Illinois
REMEMBER: the Early Registration Deadline is March 15, 2016
 
Would you like to help the animal and dairy science community and attend the 2017 ADSA Annual Meeting for free?
Referrals are the most tried-and-true way businesses grow, and the same is true for FASS. Do you know a colleague working with an animal science group that is in need of high-quality, cost-effective support services? Help them out by referring them to Jamie Ritter, FASS Executive Director at [email protected] .
Help them benefit from the shared resource concept and the 264 years of collective experience the FASS staff have in working with non-profit animal science organizations. If your referral becomes a FASS customer prior to June 1, 2017, ADSA will comp your registration to the 2017 ADSA Annual Meeting that will be held June 25 to 28, 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA.  It's win-win-win. For more information about services offered by FASS, click here.

 
Nominations Due April 30 for Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council 2016 Reproduction Awards
The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) has announced the 2016 Reproduction Awards program, which recognizes outstanding dairy operations for reproductive efficiency and well-implemented management procedures. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 program.
Dairy operations must be nominated by professionals who serve the dairy industry, such as veterinarians, extension agents, A.I. and pharmaceutical company representatives, plant and co-op field staff, consultants, and others. Nomination forms are due by April 30 and may be completed online or mailed to the following address.
DCRC
1800 S. Oak St., Suite 100
Champaign, IL 61820
Judges will review applications and select the top herds, who will be asked to provide additional information about their operation. This information will help the judges select Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. Award recipients will be honored at the 2016 DCRC Annual Meeting in Columbus, Ohio on November 10-11, 2016.
For more information about the Reproduction Awards Program or to nominate a herd online, visit http://www.dcrcouncil.org/awards/nominate-a-herd.aspx.
 
Upcoming USDFRC Seminars
The U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center is hosting two seminars this week that that you are invited to participate in.
�        Monday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m CST.: U.S. Dairy Sustainability Update by Juan Tricarico, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. The seminar will be followed by an open discussion on U.S. dairy sustainability efforts, consumer perceptions of dairy products, and related topics.
�        Wednesday, March 2 at 10 a.m. CSTClimate change adaptation and mitigation: Focus on northeast dairies by Greg Thoma, University of Arkansas.
Both seminars are in Room 225 at the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center on the UW-Madison campus. Remote access to the seminars will be available through Adobe Connect using the following connection information:
Feb. 29, Juan Tricarico:
March 2, Greg Thoma:
Audio For Both is:
Telephone:  888-844-9904
Pass code:  9232041
 
Are You Part of ADSA� on Linked In
Our ADSA Linked In group continues to grow. We now include 1,509 members from around the world, are you one of them? It's a great place to get information and network with other dairy professionals from around the world.  Check it out here.
Thanks to our Corporate Sustaining Members
                                 We appreciate your ongoing support of ADSA and the Journal of Dairy Science�.

Diamond V Mills 
Kent Nutrition
Grande Cheese Co.
Darling International Research
Quali Tech
Zook Nutrition & Management
DuPont Pioneer
Zoetis
West Central
Lallemand Animal Nutrition
Ag Processing
Renaissance Nutrition
Global Agri-Trade Corp.
Masters Choice
Papillon Agricultural Co.
Nutriad 
Western Pacific Oils LLC 
Calendar of Events
Mar 1-2, 2016   The High Plains Dairy Conference*, Overton Hotel, Lubbock, TX, For more information, click here.

Mar 7-8, 2016
     NYS Cheese Manufacturers' Association Meeting, Double Tree Hotel, Syracuse, NY, For more information contact  Janene Lucia, Ph 607-227-5833

March 7 to May 8, 2016   Dairy Production and Management MOOC (massive open online course) presented by Penn State's departments of animal science, veterinary and biomedical sciences, plant sciences and agricultural economics. For more information and to register visit the course's website: https://www.coursea.org/course/dairy 

Mar 8-9, 2016  The Southern Dairy Conference*, Atlanta, GA. For more information, click here.
 
Mar 8-9, 2016  NEDPA Conference*, Holiday Inn - Liverpool/Syracuse. For more information and registration, click here.

Mar. 8 - 11, 2016      34th Western Canadian Dairy Seminar*, for more information
click here
 
Mar 14 - 16, 2016     Midwest Meeting ADSA� Midwest Branch and ASAS Midwestern Section, Des Moines, IA
 
Mar 22-23, 2016  FRI Better Process Cheese School, Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For registation information, click here.
 
Mar 30-31, 2016     Pathogen Environmental Monitoring Workshop, Cornell University.  For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
April 5-7, 2016     Membrane Filtration, Separation, and Concentration Technologies, Cornell University, For more information contact Steve Murphy, Ph: 607-255-2893 or Louise Felker, Ph: 607-255-709
 
April 6, 2016   52nd Florida Dairy Production Conference*, Alto Straughn, IFAS Extension Professional Development Center, Gainesville, FL. For more information and registration, click here.

April 7-9, 2016 North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge & Academy: hosted by the Northeast Region in Syracuse, NY For more information, visit the Dairy Challenge web site
 
April 12-14, 2016     (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop in Association with NYS Agric. & Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Steve Murphy, Ph: 607-255-2893 or Louise Felker , PH: 607-255-7098
 
April 13, 2016   2016 Herd Health & Nutrition Conference*, Holiday Inn, Liverpool/Syracuse, NY. For registration and more information, click here.

April 14, 2016  2016   Herd Health & Nutrition Conference*, Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, South Burlington, VT. For registration and more information, click here.

April 13-14, 2016   "REAL Sustainability," Real Engagement in Agricultural Livelihoods, Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa. For registration and more information, click here.

April 18 - 20, 2016     Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference, Grand Wayne Center,  Fort Wayne, IN, For more information click here

April 25-29, 2016    World of Cheese from Pasture to Plate, Babcock Hall, Room 2015, UW-Madison, Madison, WI. For more information click here

May 1-4, 2016
     Large Dairy Herd Management (LDHM) Conference, Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, Oak Brook, IL, For more information click here 
 
May 3, 2016   Wisconsin Cleaning & Sanitation Workshop, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, Wis. For more information,
click here.

May 4, 2016    HACCP Workshop, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here
 
May 10-11, 2016   Applied Dairy Chemistry, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

May 20-21, 2016  The Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium: Intersection of Best Practices and Sustainability. Ohio Union at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. For registration and more information, click here.

May 24-25, 2016     Basic Dairy Science & Sanitation Workshop, Online and Cornell University,  For more information contact
Kim Bukowski Ph: 607-254-3313 or Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 7-8, 2016     Science of Yogurt & Fermented Dairy Products Workshop (Basic), On-line and Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 7-9, 2016   Cheese Grading Short Course, Babcock Hall, 2605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

June 15-16, 2016     4-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference, Grand River Center, Dubuque, IA, contact
Jim Salfer, U of MN, [email protected]
 
June 20-24, 2016 13th International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis*, Nantes, France, For more information click here
 
June 21-23, 2016  Precision Dairy Farming 2016, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. For more information, click here.

July 2-9, 2016  American Dairy Goat Association National Show, Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, Harrisburg, PA. For more information contact ADGA, PO Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160, 828-286-3801 
www.ADGA.org.
 
July 3-8, 2016     World Buiatrics Congress 2016, Convention Centre Dublin, Ireland, For more information click here.
 
July 12-14, 2016     High Temperature Short Time (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop in association with NYS Agriculture and Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
July 18-21, 2016     Certified Milk Inspector's School in Association with NY State Agriculture & Markets, Cornell University, For more information contact Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098, Course Syllabus  , Required Course of NYS-CMIs
 
July 19-23, 2016  ADSA- ASAS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM)*, Salt Lake City, UT, for more information click here
 
July 24-28, 2016     2016 National Association of County Agricultural Agents Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference (AM/PIC) Little Rock, AR, For more information click here
 
Aug 2-3, 2016  Milk Pasteurization, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

Aug 15-18, 2016     Food Safety Systems (HACCP) and Implementing SQF, Cornell University, For more information contact
Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Aug 17-18, 2016  2016 Mid-South Ruminant Nutrition Conference*, Embassy Suites, Grapevine, TX. For registration and more information, click here.

Sept 11-13, 2016    
NYS Cheese Manufacturers' Assoc. Annual Fall Meeting, Harbor Hotel, Watkins Glen NY, For more information contact Janene Lucia, Ph: 607-227-5833
 
Sept 13-14, 2016   Master Artisan Short Course Series, Babcock Hall, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.

Sept 14-15, 2016     Advanced Fluid Milk Cornell University, For more information contact
Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Sept 20-22, 2016      NYS Association for Food Protection Annual Conference/FDA NE Regional Update, Doubletree Hotel Syracuse, NY For more information contact Janene Lucia, Ph: 607-227-5833

Sept 21-22, 2016  77th Minnesota Nutrition Conference*, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Prior Lake, MN. For more information and registration, click here.

Oct 3-7, 2016   Cheese Tech Short Course, Babcock Hall Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here.
 
Oct 4-8, 2016     50th World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI. For more information click here
 
Oct 11-12, 2016  Dairy Ingredient Manufacturing, Babcock Hall, Room 2015, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison, WI. For more information, click here

Oct 11-13, 2016     High Temperature Short Time (HTST) Pasteurizer Workshop, Cornell University, For more information contact
Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
Oct 19-20, 2016     Advanced Cheese Making, Cornell University, For more information contact Rob Ralyea Ph: 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker Ph:  607-255-7098
 
Oct 20-26, 2016     120th IUSAHA- AAVLD Annual Meeting , Greensboro Sheraton Hotel. Greensboro, NC, For more information click here
 
Oct 25-26, 2016     Vat Pasteurization/Basic Cheese Making Workshop, On-line and Cornell University, For more information contact Rob Ralyea Ph: 607-255-7643 or Louise Felker Ph:  607-255-7098
 
Nov 1-4, 2016    31st ADSA Discover Conference: Big Data Dairy Management,  Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center, Oak Brook, IL, For more information click here

Nov 2-4, 2016   Cheese Grading Short Course, Babcock Hall, Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison WI, For more information
click here

Nov 10-11, 2016     2016 DCRC Annual Meeting, Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel, Columbus, Ohio, For registration and more information click here

Nov 14-16, 2016  Symposium on Gut Health in Production of Food Animals*, St. Louis, MO. For more information and registration click here.

Nov 30-Dec 2, 2016   Ice Cream Makers Short Course, Babcock Hall, Room 205, 1605 Linden Dr., Madison WI, For more information
click here

Dec 6-7, 2016    
Food Safety Plans for Artisan and Farmstead Processors, Online & Hands-On Location TBD, For more information contact Kimberly Bukowski Ph: 607-243-3313 or  Louise Felker Ph: 607-255-7098
 
June 25-28, 2017 2017 ADSA Annual Conference and Tradeshow, Pittsburgh, PA.  For more information click here
 
*An S-PAC Partner Conference
 
If your organization's conference isn't among the ever growing list that contribute proceedings and presentations to S-PAC�, ask your conference organizer to contact Ken Olson for more information about the benefits of participation.
 
If you would like to have an event included in the "Dates to Note," please contact Ken Olson.
 
 

ADSA Membership Benefits                                 
                                           
Did you know that your ADSA Professional Membership provides you with:

*        Electronic access to the Journal of Dairy Science�

*        Joint Annual Meeting at member rates

*        Discover Conferences at member rates

*        S-PAC: Free access to JAM and ADSA divisional abstracts

*        S-PAC subscription at member rates

*        Access to recorded symposia library                                                                       

*        ADSA News (association newsletter)

*        ADSA Dair e-news (ADSA industry newsletter)

*        Access to member directory

*        Peer recognition through ADSA and Foundation Award Program

*        Discounted page charges in Journal of Dairy Science�

*        A strong voice of advocacy for the animal sciences, animal agriculture and agriculture research

*        Broad author recognition through ADSA/Elsevier press release program

*        Linked In and You Tube sites for ADSA

*        Quality networking with academic and industry professionals

*        Travel awards for all graduate students attending Discover Conferences

*        Opportunity to serve peers via committee and officer positions

 
For more information on your benefits please visit: http://www.adsa.org/join.asp
To join now and gain these member benefits, visit: http://www.adsa.org/join.asp

American Dairy Science Association
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