Darigold Lynden Plant

 Dry milk powder varieties from Darigold's Lynden plant provide a much needed nutritional supplement in Asia where climate, feed supply, sufficient water and land challenges prevents effective dairy production. Dairy powder exports have grown every year since Darigold entered the export market in 1984, with a facility in the Philippines.  

"The Lynden plant with 60 employees produces about 330,000 lbs. of dry milk powder every day, seven days a week, as one of the largest milk drying operations in the U.S." says Darigold SVP Ingredients, Dermot Carey. "The powder is packaged in 25kg bags and loaded into shipping containers. Six containers a day are trucked to the Port of Seattle for shipment primarily to Asian ports of call, but also to the Middle East and North Africa."

"The raw milk to powder conversion process removes water and fat from the fluid milk to create dry milk powder that contains all the calcium and other nutrients found in fluid milk except for the vitamin A, which remains in the separated Milkfat stream," he said. "Dry milk powder is valued in these countries for use in infant formula, recombined fluid milks, evaporated and sweetened condensed milks, yogurt, and by large global food companies as an ingredient in confectionary, baked goods and other foods." 

60 dairy farmers attend nutrient management workshop in Lynden

In mid-January the WCD conducted a well attended 6-hour manure nutrient workshop at the Ten Mile Grange in Lynden where more than 60 dairy farmers and applicators were in attendance.  Dr. Embertson partnered with the South Yakima Conservation District to conduct a similarly well attended workshop in Sunnyside, WA. where there are also significant dairy operations.
 

"The workshop was beneficial and provided some useful tools that dairy farmers can use such as the weather reporting services to help judge soil conditions," said Dan Heeringa who owns Heeringa Dairy LLC in Sumas.  "Soil scientists described how soil type and moisture content could be used to determine saturation levels.  This is important in making application decisions that will maximize nutrient absorption while reducing the potential for runoff."   Read More..

Since the Dairy Nutrient Management Act was enacted into law in 1998, each of the Washington's 480 registered dairies have developed plans and worked to implement them as a way to avoid surface water discharges and mitigate elevated nitrate content in groundwater. 

"Nutrient plans are not permits but road maps for dairy farmers to use to manage manure nutrients on an on-going basis, rain or shine, " said Ginny Prest, Dairy Nutrient Program Manager with the Washington Department of Agriculture. " From the initial start up 17 years ago, the progress dairy farmers are making has been phenomenal - from facilities, waste storage ponds, collecting silage, conveyance or export to record keeping.  WSDA works closely with all dairy farmers, making farm visits and developing good communication."

 "Whatcom County is complicated by a high water table and abundant precipitation. Both create challenges to the storage and application of dairy manure in a way that protects both surface water and groundwater. Elevated fecal coliform originates from a variety of sources including non-agronomic manure applications, failing septics, storm water runoff, livestock and other factors. Combined, these sources create the conditions that downgrade shellfish beds," she says.    Read More....