Register for Dairy Calf and Heifer Association conference

MADISON, Wis. — Registration is open for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association annual conference to be April 11-13 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton.

This year’s conference lineup includes a variety of programs and panel discussions designed to support calf and heifer producers’ success in today’s market.

“Dairy calf and heifer raisers face unique challenges in the industry,” said Bob James, professor of dairy science at Virginia Tech and conference co-chairman. “This conference focuses on learning from peers and sharing knowledge on tools and techniques that can help them to thrive and grow their businesses.”

The theme is “Moving Forward,” and the content reflects that goal. Activities will include:

* Presentations by industry experts and producer panels on topics including growth and nutrition, reproduction, group housing, animal behavior, dairy beef and organic calf and heifer raising.

* Professional development including leadership, team communications and the use of social media for positive communication.

* A tradeshow reception giving producers and allied industry members networking opportunities.

* Tours and on-farm sessions at Rosy-Lane Holsteins and Kutz Dairy Farm and hands-on demonstrations at the University of Wisconsin-School of Veterinary Medicine and the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Attendees might already be familiar with one conference speaker, who has more than 250,000 followers on Facebook. Greg Peterson is one of the Peterson Farm Brothers, whose videos of pop song parodies have received millions of views on YouTube. Peterson will share his insight into using social media to advocate for agriculture.

“The Peterson Farm Brothers use their love of agriculture to make an impact beyond the farm,” James said. “Their story can inspire other producers to find their own niches for communicating about their farms and their industry.”

Register by visiting www.calfandheifer.org/conference or calling 855-400-3242. Sponsorship opportunities also are available.


Resource:http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Latest-News/Article/Register-for-Dairy-Calf-and-Heifer-Association-conference-/8/6/13912

SP Tulsian positive on dairy sector

SP Tulsian of sptulsian.com told CNBC-TV18, "I am holding very promising view on the dairy sector. In fact, if you see Godrej Industries having increased their stake to 51 percent in Creamline with Rs 150 crore, I tell you that is such an excellent enhancement. They have a strong presence. If you really see, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and if you really see the milk business has been thriving in that pocket, heritage food owned by the family of N Chandra Babu Naidu has been doing very well." "


There is immense potential to expand in the Southern pocket and then more special in Maharashtra, Gujarat. See, Maharashtra, Gujarat has become very crowded, Gujarat because of Amul and Maharashtra because of cooperative. There is a strong presence of cooperative in Maharashtra, if you see western Maharashtra, Satara, Sangli, Karad, Kolhapur, they are all very rich in milk producing and they are all predominantly controlled by the cooperatives; all these sugar lobby as well as milk," he added.

 "I do not think that there is any space in this and you cannot go upward. Maybe UP and all that, doing business and procuring milk again is a very difficult task maybe from the trade practices, I am not trying to cast my aspirations, but safety point of view, procuring the milk so ultimately, you are left with the southern states and you are left with ample this one. In fact, in Baramati, if you recall, Britannia is procuring their cheese and all that from dynamics dairy in which American company has acquired the stake.




" "I like Godrej; it has a subsidiary Godrej Agrovet. But overall, positive view on dairy sector, but you need to be very cautious taking valuations, so Kwality probably seems to have been running too much, maybe some momentum was speculative, play started having coming in now in the share," he said.



Resource:http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/stocks-views/sp-tulsian-positivedairy-sector_4689261.html

Dairy Industry Sets Ambitious Targets to Reduce Emissions

ANALYSIS - The British dairy industry is set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 20 and 30 per cent on 1990 levels by 2020.

By 2025 90 per cent of dairy farmers in the UK will be implementing technologies and practices to reduce emissions from agriculture according to the latest Dairy Roadmap launched this week by the National Farmers Union, Dairy UK and the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board.

In the review of the measures taken over the last two years, the latest roadmap shows that 90 per cent of farmers are actively nutrient management planning and 65 per cent of the dairy managed farmland is now under environmental stewardship schemes.

In 2013, 75 per cent on farmers were nutrient management planning.

The roadmap shows that good nutrient management can bring benefits including the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions and a reduction in water pollution as well as helping farmers to save money by optimising the nutrients used.

Rob Harrison, the chairman of the Dairy Roadmap and the chairman of the National Farmers Union Dairy Board said that the loss of the Entry Level Stewardship scheme meant setting more targets for farmers.

However he said that he believed that more and more dairy farmers will become involved with biodiversity measures as well as continue to reduce waste and emissions.

“It is down to us to improve the industry and show the way forward,” he said.

He said that the future relies on businesses operating to world leading standards while at the same time minimising the impact of dairy production on the environment.

The report shows that between 10 and 15 per cent of dairy farmers are implementing at least one form of renewable energy technology, while a third of all farmers in England and Wales are generating renewable energy.

The roadmap findings also show a 70 per cent uptake of water efficiency measures including rainwater harvesting, reusing water from a plate-cooler and using water from a borehole.

Research from the advisory body ADAS has shown that dairy farms pay between £31 and £100 per cow for water use each year, but 20 per cent of this usage could be met through rainwater sources.

More than half of the British dairy farms are now using new technology to help reduce emissions from agriculture in particular by concentrating on feed quality and digestibility, animal health and husbandry, manure management and collection, storage and use and precision livestock farming.

The report says that feed and nutrition directly affects an animal’s productivity and can strongly affect GHG emissions.

And grazing management, improving forage quality to make the most of the mix all contribute to improved efficiency in the dairy system.

“This can substantially increase feed efficiency and production, resulting in reduced emissions,” the report says.

“Customised balanced feeding programmes in dairy cattle have been shown to be effective at increasing productivity and reducing methane emissions intensity (by between 15-20 per cent) and also nitrogen excretion by 20-30 per cent as a result of reduced emissions from manure.”..

Resource: : http://www.thecattlesite.com/news/49048/dairy-industry-sets-ambitious-targets-to-reduce-emissions/

Russia may soon get 'Taste of India

VADODARA: Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets brand Amul, is inching closer to export dairy products to Russia, making it the first Indian dairy major to enter that market.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Moscow, Amul is hopeful that Russia's Rosselkhoznadzor (also known as Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance or FSVPS) - will soon allow imports of dairy products from India by removing 1,000 cows' farm condition.

A top GCMMF official was part of the Indian delegation that accompanied Modi during the visit.

Although Russia had evaluated India as their supplier last year, after visits to few Indian dairy plants in November 2014, FSVPS had come up with the suggestion that only those Indian dairy plants which own more than 1,000 cows shall be approved for export of dairy products to Russia. Amul had objected to this as an impractical non-tariff barrier as Russia had not imposed this condition in any other country from where it imports milk products.

Also, majority of farmers in India have 2 to 5 milch animals and there are not more than 2 to 3 farms across the country that have more than 1,000 cows as asked by Russian protocol.

Based on these facts, Amul had knocked the Centre's doors arguing that for paltry exports - less than 100 metric tonnes (MT) - India should not surrender to this special condition.

"If Russia agrees to see things in newer perspective, it will help Indian dairy co-operative sector especially at the time when it is holding high inventory of milk powder and is receiving very high milk," said R S Sodhi, GCMMF's managing director.

All co-operatives put together currently have an inventory of 50,000 MT milk powder while Amul alone procures 205 lakh litres per day milk.

Resource:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vadodara/Russia-may-soon-get-Taste-of-India/articleshow/50361646.cms

Health Benefits Of Having Dairy Products

Drinking a glass of milk is not in fashion these days, as we think that it will add on some extra amount of calories. There are various positive effects of drinking just a glass of milk (make sure you choose a low fat one) each day.Regular intake of milk, yogurt and cheese can be good for your heart, blood pressure and even weight. These foods are rich in calcium and protein that are required by the body.Here are some health benefits of having dairy products.

Health benefits of having dairy products are:

1.Healthy Bones: No doubt consuming a good amount of dairy products will keep your bones healthy, it will also strengthen them. Dairy products provide calcium that is essential for the body growth and development. It can avoid osteoporosis in the later stages of life as well. So, make sure you do not skip your glass of milk.

2.Obesity: Consuming dairy products will make you obese is a myth! Studies have revealed that people who consume milk and dairy products are much more slimmer than people who do not.Milk is not a high-fat product. It can be consumed as a part of a calorie-control diet, as it can help you to lose weight around the abdomen.

3.Controls Blood Pressure: Dairy products help to reduce blood pressure. Including a diet containing fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and low salt helps in controlling your blood pressure. The potassium, magnesium and calcium found in the dairy products help to maintain a healthy blood pressure level.

4.Cancer: Studies have revealed that consuming milk and other dairy products can reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. So, make sure you consume dairy products in a good amount and consume a glass of milk every day to avoid cancer risk.

5.Metabolic Syndrome: Studies have revealed that people who consumed more of dairy products like yogurt, milk and cheese have lesser chances of a wider waist size and metabolic syndrome. These group of syndromes help to lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

6.It Helps In Sleeping Better: Dairy products are rich in proteins that help you in sleeping better. It helps to improve the sleep quality and increases the next day alertness. Tryptophan raises the levels of serotonin and melatonin, which help in catching a good night’s sleep. This is one of the health benefits of consuming dairy products.

7.It Keeps You Full: Cheese helps you to stay fuller for a longer period of time. You can have this as a snack to beat hunger or along with a sandwich as a spread. A research has revealed that children who snacked on a combination of cheese and veggies consumed less calories as compared to kids who binged on potato chips. Therefore, it is one of the best choices to consume more dairy products.

These are the health benefits of having dairy products.

Resource: http://asianetindia.com/health-benefits-of-having-dairy-products/

Companies look to milk money in fast-growing dairy market

Talk about companies looking to 'milk' money. Firms are lining up ambitious plans to tap into the fast growing Indian dairy market, betting that a combination of rising disposable income, and a preference for quality and healthier foods offers huge potential for organised players.

 Last month, the Economic Times reported that Coca Cola was planning to introduce its global milk-based beverage brand Vio in India, in a bid to strengthen its presence in the dairy market here.

 A couple of weeks later, Ravi Jaipuria, PepsiCo's biggest bottler in South Asia, announced plans to enter the Indian dairy space by bringing his Creambell brand of ice cream. In addition, he also plans to buy a dairy plant to manufacture value-added dairy products such as cheese, butter, lassi and yoghurt

 The Godrej group is the latest to throw its hat into the ring, with unlisted Godrej Agrovet today announcing that it has hiked its stake in Creamline Dairy Products to 51 percent from 26 percent earlier.


 "The value added milk business is growing very rapidly in our country," Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej told CNBC-TV18 , adding that the growth opportunity was "considerable."

 "We will look at all opportunities in dairy products; it could be any value added milk product including things like cheese, etc," he said. Rating firm CRISIL estimates the revenues of the organised dairy segment at Rs 75,000 crore in FY2015. CRISIL is bullish on the dairy industry, saying rising disposable income and increasing quality consciousness would lead to greater preference for branded milk and milk products. It estimates that the processing capacity of organised dairies (that have grown 22 percent in last five years) is likely to grow 40 percent in the next three years. Sometime back, Pepsico chief Indra Nooyi had said there were plans to introduce some of Pepsi's global dairy brands in India.

A Times of India report quoted Jaipuria as saying that his company was willing to tie up with Pepsi in case they were keen to foray into the dairy space in India. "Earlier, people made dairy products such as yoghurt and paneer at home," Jaipuria told ToI. "But now, they prefer buying packaged products. The sector will get hotter in the future," he said.

 According to CRISIL, given rising demand for branded products and investments being made by organised sector players, the share of organised segment will increase to about 25 percent by fiscal 2018 (from 19 percent currently).

Resource: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/companies-look-to-milk-moneyfast-growing-dairy-market_4685801.html

Growing Global Import Demand to Drive EU Dairy Sector

EU - The EU has published a medium-term Agricultural Outlook for the years up to 2025, with the dairy outlook suggesting the market will remain at risk of market imbalances.

The current low prices for dairy commodities and milk are mainly the result of a surge in world and EU supply at a time when China has started to reduce its purchases and Russia has introduced an import ban.

However, import demand from other regions of the world has risen significantly and is expected to grow steadily over the outlook period, driven by population growth and a change in diets in favour of dairy products.

In addition, Chinese imports should resume growth.

Though lower than in the last decade, the expected 2 per cent annual increase in world imports and rising EU domestic demand for dairy products are expected to support an increase in deliveries of close to 1 per cent per year to 164 million t in 2025.

The EU's share of world exports should grow slightly, thanks to its considerable potential to increase production (unlike its main competitor, New Zealand, which is more constrained by the availability of natural resources).

Milk prices are expected to recover to moderate levels in the short term, before increasing further to an average of EUR 360/t in the last five years of the outlook period, in line with expectations for world dairy–commodity prices.

The world market should remain thin with only 7.5 per cent of dairy world production traded in 2025, so that the risk will remain high of short-term market imbalances.

In the next 10 years, around half of the additional milk produced in the EU could be used for powder (mainly SMP) and more than 30 per cent for cheese. While most of the extra powder should be exported, the main driver for cheese remains domestic consumption.

Resource:http://www.thecattlesite.com/news/49069/growing-global-import-demand-to-drive-eu-dairy-sector/

I Gave Up Dairy for a Year and It Changed My Life

Going dairy-free led to weight loss, clear skin, ​and more energy, making this diet choice worth sacrificing the occasional slice of pizza

Last year when I went home for the holidays, I asked my mom if Santa could bring me some TUMS. She raised an eyebrow. I explained that lately, after each meal, I was taking a TUMS. Or two. Maybe three, tops.

My mom is a yogi and a health nut. Naturally, she suggested that I change my diet. I would feel better and no longer need the antacids if I ate the right foods, she told me.
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I'll admit it—my diet wasn't perfect. While I exercised regularly, limited my drinking, and had a mostly balanced diet of veggies and meat, I also splurged—a lot. I'd always got cheese. At a Mexican restaurant, I'd never say no to tons of chips, margs, and queso dip. I thought my exercise routine would take care of the dairy slip-ups—but unfortunately, that wasn't working.

Not only was I bloated, lethargic, and acne-prone, I had also gained nearly 10 pounds that year—so much weight that my 5'4" frame was holding almost 165 pounds. I was uncomfortable in most everything I wore aside from a pair of leggings.

So with the encouragement of my roommate, who also wanted to improve her overall health, I took my mom's advice. We decided to do Whole30, a diet that calls for you to cut out dairy, booze, refined or processed sugars, legumes, and gluten for 30 days, then gradually add those foods back into your diet and see how your body responds. (Find out how another woman Lost Weight on the Whole 30 Diet—Without Cheating!)

For the most part, everything went smoothly. After 30 days, I added wine back in and I was totally fine. Three days later, I ordered sushi (you can't have rice on Whole30) for dinner and was fine then too. It wasn't until that Friday when I had a protein shake at work that I noticed a serious change. While I thought the drink was made with almond milk, it actually had skim milk in it. And after drinking the shake, I vomited.

It was that obvious—and instant.

When I told my mom about my throwing up incident, she said, "Oh yeah, you had to have soy formula as a baby, you didn't react well to lactose." (Wish she would have told me sooner!)

See, lots of people are sensitive to lactose—a sugar present in milk, and thus, anything made of milk—and many don't even know it. In fact, I saw a doctor a few months after Whole30 to see if I was intolerant or just highly sensitive. Come to find out, as I expected, I'm intolerant.

Since that day, I haven't tasted dairy, apart from very minor treats that I often regret. These days, I avoid desserts that are made with butter or milk. As for my morning coffee? I'm very thankful for coconut or almond milk options to pair with my get-me-going brews. (Think beyond the cow! We've got 13 Types of Milk That Do Your Body Good.)

It hasn't been easy to give up dairy, but the changes in my body (I've lost 25 pounds!), my energy levels, and my overall life have been incredible. In fact, there are four big ways a dairy-free life has made me healthier.

I never nloat. A bold but accurate statement. A year ago, I could barely wear jeans. Over the course of the day, my stomach would expand so much from everything I ate. Nowadays? My tummy stays pretty damn flat all day long—even after eating lunch mid-day. While I used to grab a half-sandwich and soup, now I make sure my lunch has three healthy components: lean meat, veggies, and fruit. Thanks to this shifts, I'm now a size 4 (a year ago, I was a size 10) and I wear jeans on the regular. (Try these 8 Ways to Beat Belly Bloat.)

I kissed PMS goodbye. Awful period symptoms before my cycle started used to be something that happened on the reg. My breasts would also swell up due to the ridiculous amount of estrogen in most milk and cheese products (who knew?!). But while it might seem insane to think that giving up my beloved Brie could make such a difference in my lady parts, these days I rarely have PMS. In fact, though I've never missed a period, I'm often surprised when it comes because everything stays just the same.

I look forward to the gym. By the time 6:30 p.m. rolled around last year, I would find myself feeling achy, bloated, and—well—gassy. It was pretty gross, and I'd often find excuses for why I didn't want to exercise. Even if I did make it to the gym, I wouldn't give 100 percent and I hated how I looked in most workout gear. After I got rid of milk and cheese products? I also got rid of that feeling I used to have at the end of the day. Now I work out five to days a week—and I actually look forward to it. I fell in love with boxing, bootcamp-style and high intensity interval training classes, and I've mastered the yoga headstand. My strength is up and so is my confidence: I make it out on more dates, I'm always up for a 5K with friends, I don't need my knees to do push-ups anymore, and I love the way I feel drenched in sweat.

My acne is gone. I've always had acne-prone skin, and though I went on Accutane a few years ago, I'd still suffer occasional breakouts. I never really thought much of it, until I cut out milk, cheese, and butter completely, and noticed I'd get a breakout once a month—if that. (Adult Acne Is Popping Up Everywhere, BTW.) By letting go of my cheese-and-meat-and-crackers snack and trips to the frozen yogurt shop, I've been able to wear less makeup, and I've even noticed my blue eyes to be even brighter.

I'm Happier
One of the best realizations that has come from my diet changes has been how great I feel when I put the right things into my body—and how terrible I feel when I don't. While we all splurge from now and then (we're human, it's allowed!), I don't crave unhealthy food as often as I did before. And though there are things I miss—hot fudge sundaes and steak and cheese quesadillas, ahh—I love how I feel without them more.

Resource:http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/management/i-gave-up-dairy-for-a-year-and-it-changed-my-life

Zatarain’s product recalled for dairy-allergy issue

 If you have a dairy allergy, be aware that some packages of Zatarains are being recalled because they contain Creamy Parmesan Rice Mix instead.

By Kathleen Purvis

kpurvis@charlotteobserver.com

      
        Order Reprint of this Story

If you have 8-ounce boxes of Zatarain’s Red Beans & Rice Original, you might get a surprise when you open them. The company is voluntarily recalling the product because some packages actually contain Creamy Parmesan Rice Mix. Dairy products aren’t labeled on the product, which could be a problem for people with dairy allergies or sensitivities.

No illnesses have been reported and no other Zatarain’s products are involved in the recall.

The 8-ounce packages are labeled Zatarain’s Red Beans and Rice Original and have the UPC number 7142909849 with the date “Best By Jul 31 16Z.” The packages were shipped to the Midwest and the East, including North and South Carolina.

If you have a package, you should dispose of it and contact Zatarain’s at 1-877-837-3796 for a refund or replacement.

Resource: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/food-drink/ill-bite-blog/article50878910.html

US helping improve dairy production

ISLAMABAD: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is coordinating with Pakistan to improve dairy production and resolve multiple issues in the farming sector.

According to reports, these projects mainly focus on implementing progressive control strategies for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and to enhance dairy productivity. The sources said that Pakistan's dairy industry is on the cusp of transformation after significant investment by the government of Pakistan, donors and private industry during the last decade. Modern and commercial dairies are beginning to enter the market and high-yield livestock management practices are becoming commercially viable.

However, commercial dairies are not seeing the production levels possible with foreign breeds and significant work needs to be done on improving management practices and animal health, they added. With improved techniques and genetics, he hoped that farms could see their milk production double, even triple, which would not only increase farmer income, but also the quality and quantity of milk on the domestic market. To leverage these opportunities and assist the dairy sector's transformation, USDA and USAID are partnering with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), the largest livestock educational institute in Pakistan and one of the oldest veterinarian institutions in Asia, to establish the Pattoki Training and Research Demonstration Farm, a model dairy farm for high-producing breeds in Pattoki.

The demonstration farm will house approximately 50 imported Holstein heifers from the United States, which are expected to arrive in the fall when cooler weather prevails. UVAS has already constructed a milking parlour, calving and maternity pens, free stalls and the majority of the infrastructure requirements for the farm. They hoped that UVAS model dairy farm will become a focal point in Pakistan for students to learn about the benefits and management of high-producing dairy breeds.

Most importantly, the farm will provide educational programs and hands-on learning experiences for dairy farmers and federal and provincial government extension agents to keep high-producing cattle breeds healthy and productive in Pakistan. In addition, the demonstration farm is expected to become financially self-sustainable through the production and sale of valuable farm outputs including milk and breeding stock. While much work remains, the Pattoki Training and Research Demonstration Farm will also provide a public resource to advance the dairy production revolution in Pakistan.

Resource: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/business/21-Dec-2015/us-helping-improve-dairy-production

All the Cheese in China? Israeli Dairy Giant Tnuva Goes Global

Nine months after it was acquired by China’s Bright Food, Israel’s biggest dairy product maker, Tnuva, is expanding production capacity and gearing up to start exports of its yellow cheese to China.
“I expect that sometime during 2016 we will export our first yellow cheese to China. It’s natural that as a result of the change in ownership at Tnuva, we see China as an export destination for our products – in addition to yellow cheese, other products with long shelf lives like our Sunfrost and Maadanot,” said its CEO, Arik Schor, referring to the company’s line of frozen food products during an interview with TheMarker.
He spoke as the company opened a new, 350 million-shekel (nearly $90 million) facility in Tel Yosef, that will expand yellow cheese production by 15%. The dairy is designed so that capacity at each production line can be expanded by another 30% at a cost of just 60 million shekels.

All that extra capacity isn’t for the Israeli market, which isn’t growing fast nearly fast enough, especially as Tnuva has lost some market share over the past year, as have Israel’s other big food makers.
But Schor is quick to assure consumers that the company isn’t abandoning the Israeli consumer in favor of serving a market with some 1.2 billion mouths to feed. “Our base is in Israel and we’ll continue developing the Israeli market,” he said, adding that the new dairy would be sourcing most of its inputs like packaging materials from Israel, too.
The Bright Food acquisition raised fears in Israel about foreign ownership and jobs being moved to China among concerns. For that reason, Tnuva has been especially careful to demonstrate its continued connection with Israel. “Tnuva’s investment in the new dairy confirms its commitment to the economy and Israeli agriculture,” a promotional film shown to the media noted.

Schor compared Tnuva’s commitment to Israel as an element of national security, helping to ensure a domestic supply fo food, just as having a flagship airline ensures international air links. “We won’t surrender to passing fashions that tell us imports will save the State of Israel and that all the solutions to the problems of the high cost of living can be found from imported products,” he said.Nevertheless, for Tnuva to increase its sales it has to look overseas, as have other here big Israeli food makers, Strauss Group and Osem.“It’s true that Tnuva’s market share is declining somewhat, but we have grown in some categories and so a small drop in our market share doesn’t bother me. What does concern me is that we keep growing. Market share isn’t our god,” Schor said.

Tnuva’s overseas ambitions extend to the United States, where it hopes to find a market for its famed cottage cheese. The cottage cheese category in the U.S. is sleepy. We’re working on developing a cottage cheese similar to Tnuva’s with a local dairy in the U.S. that will act as a subcontractor,” said Schor.He said it hoped to reach an agreement with a U.S. subcontractor in time to begin sales in the second quarter of next year. “We don’t have any experience there, so we will be starting cautiously and in a measured way, but we nevertheless see the U.S. as a target because in Israel we have fewer options.”

He hesitates to say how much of Tnuva’s sales will come from overseas since the expansion is just beginning, but the company’s hope is that about a third will be outside of Israel six or seven years from now.
Plans for the new dairy began three years ago, before Bright Food entered the picture, but the facility attests to the high-tech style of Tnuva’s operations even though it is a company making decidedly low-tech products, The dairy is a state-of-the-art operation where product coming down the production line barely comes into contact with human hands, thereby ensuring a very high level of quality and safety.

Forklifts make their way around the factory floor without drivers. An eight-handed robot called the Octopus is cutting, sorting and packaging. There are far fewer staff to be found here compared to the company’s other dairies, including the one adjacent to it that produces butter and specialty cheeses.There will 7% to 8% fewer workers at the new dairy, which Schor said did not involve any firings. “We’ve been planning this for four years so that when workers left we didn’t hire any in their place. If we hired someone new, we explain that the job was for a year or two,” he said.

The new plant marks a big change for Tnuva, which had been making yellow cheese from the same facility since 1936, expanding and upgrading it all the time. “The time came for something completely new at the cutting edge of technology and enabling us to expand capacity,” Schor said



Resource:http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-1.692954

Inspection fees worry dairy industry

BOZEMAN — Montana dairy producers are worried after the state Department of Livestock proposed increases on dairy inspection fees that some say could cripple small dairies.

The proposal would nearly double the charge for milk producers and add a minimum $725 fee per month for processors, including cheesemakers and large producers who are not charged under current rules.
Under state laws, the department is required to charge its licensees to cover the cost of inspections.The department says it has a $130,000 deficit, but small dairies said they would get hit the worst.

"You choose the option that wouldn't bring in the most revenue, but the one that would cripple the small dairies," said Lark Gilmer, owner of Poor Orphan Creamery in Sheridan. Currently, there are fewer than 80 licensed dairy operations across the state.Gilmer said with fewer producers, the costs are rising.

Dairy owners are also asking why they are being charged for inspections, which they consider a public health issue.
"There's other options that we haven't considered for funding this health issue. There's got to be other options available to us," said Gilmer.Department officials say they don't believe lawmakers will change the rules.

"An agency going to the Legislature is not very popular and not very effective," Zaluski said. "It's not so easy for us to say that we need more resources for this particular problem."
The current system pleases no one. Larger processors often have in-house testing facilities and say they should pay lower fees. Smaller dairy owners said they don't make enough money to absorb a fee increase.
Chad Lee, Milk Control Bureau chief, said reducing inspections could have a devastating effect."Potentially you could have the result where the plants would lose their ability to ship out of state, which would put dairies out of business for sure," Lee said.

 

Resource:http://billingsgazette.com

Mini Dairy Plant launched in Mkg

Commissioner & Secretary (Veterinary & AH) and Chairman NSDCF Ltd & NLDB, LH Thangi Mannen today launched the Dairy Farmers’ Orientation and Strengthening of Mini Dairy Plant here today in the presence of the dairy farmers and other officials.

The programme was ‘jointly sponsored by the Nagaland State Dairy Co-operative Federation Ltd (NSDCF Ltd) and Nagaland Livestock Development Board (NLDB).

The chief guest, Thangi Mannen, while speaking at the launching programme, encouraged the farmers to participate in the diary production and towards more production. She pointed out that Mokokchung is located in a strategic location with lot of market viabilities. In this regard, she urged that Mokokchung town, as it celebrates its 125th year, to go beyond and make the dairy farming as a booming industry in the region.

Meanwhile, the chief guest also unveiled the plaque and formally launched the milk products of the Mini dairy plant, Mokokchung.
Short speeches were also delivered by the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel IAS, and Addl Director of Vet & AH, Viral.

Clean milk production kits were also distributed to some dairy farmers at the programme.

NSDCF Board of Directors from Mokokchung, member L Yanger, while speaking with the media, expressed happiness at the government of Nagaland for their initiative and added that it will go a long way in increasing the dairy production, enhance value addition and open more market viability for the local dairy products in the state.

After the formal programme, a technical session, ‘Dairy farmers’ orientation programme’ was also held which was moderated by Dr Aoyimsen VAS (DDL), Mokokchung
Resource:http://morungexpress.com/mini-dairy-plant-launched-in-mkg/

Australian dairy and wine brands targeted by 'trademark squatters' in China

An Australian start-up business has had its trademark stolen in China even before it has begun producing any products.

Tori Best spent months creating her Farmer Brown's label with the intention of selling dairy products in Australian and Chinese supermarkets.

She registered the trademark in Australia but when she tried to register it with the China Trademark Office, she found the name and her flying cow logo had already been registered by a Chinese company.

"It was identical. They were so fast," Ms Best said.

"We had it designed by an in-house studio in Melbourne, a well-known production company, and they came up with the cow and the way it looks."

Further research revealed a Chinese website, Fujian Province AuMake, was already selling ice cream with the identical Farmer Brown's logo and claimed to be made from 100 per cent Australian milk.

Ms Best believed the brand was leaked after her husband sent it to a business associate for advice.

"It wasn't advertised in the public domain so it was within the networks John had established, not someone he deals with directly," she said.

"We were going to look at exporting milk and ice cream products to China. The push was to align ourselves with manufacturers in Australia."

The company that lodged the Farmer Brown's trademark in China, Putian City Federation Trading Company, is linked by one of its shareholders to the Chinese website, Fujian Province AuMake.
'Brand pirates' stockpiling hundreds of trademarks

Australian winemaker Mark Arnold almost lost his Picarus wine label to the same company.

"We were tipped off and managed to lodge our claim one day earlier," Mr Arnold said.

But he said he did not manage to save another wine label, Ocean Grove, which he cannot now sell in China.

 "You go to all the effort of developing a product and a brand and to find out someone else has taken ownership of it in any market is a major shock," he said.

"I think there needs to be an awareness that this occurs, and I think the Australian Government needs to realise that this is a problem, and it is going to become an increasing problem, unless steps are taken to do something about it."

Ms Best was fortunate to discover the trademark claim within the three-month opposition phase and has challenged the lodgement.

Her Hong Kong-based lawyer, Dan Plane, said China's first-to-file laws made trademark squatting a common practice.

"There are pirates out there who will literally stockpile hundreds of trademarks," he said.

"It's not overly expensive and then they just sit back and wait for the owner of the mark to come forward and hope for a return on their investment.

Resource:http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-13/australian-dairy-and-wine-brands-targeted-by-trademark-squatters/7022714

British dairy highlights environmental achievements

Huge efforts by the British dairy industry to further reduce its environmental impact have been revealed in a new report.

The updated and refreshed Dairy Roadmap highlights some of the key achievements by dairy farmers, processors and retailers since its launch in 2008.


Key achievements:

    77 per cent of dairy holdings are now implementing nutrient management plans. In addition to this, 69 per cent of these farmers are updating their management plan every year.

    Of the 43 large processing sites (those processing over 50 tonnes of milk a day) currently reporting into the Roadmap, 39 (91 per cent) have an EMS in place.

    Dairy farmers have met their 2015 target of 15 per cent renewable energy uptake.

    Currently only four per cent of ex-factory waste from large Dairy Roadmap sites is sent to landfill, 

this is compared to 32% in 2008. 14 large sites reported zero waste to landfill in 2014, a vast improvement from 2008 when no sites were doing this.  

    78 per cent of dairy farmers are currently taking action to reduce the GHG emissions on their farm-this is the highest percentage out of all farming sector.
Resource:http://www.nfuonline.com/news/latest-news/british-dairy-highlights-environmental-achievements/

Dairy-cow numbers hit all-time high

Compared to June 2014, this year’s dairy-cow numbers have increased by 6 percent to 311,500 head, which is a record according to the June 2015 census figures just released by DARD. However, the increase is due to decisions made by optimistic dairy farmers two years ago to increase the number of heifers, which are now calving down and joining main milking herds.

The total cattle numbers were 3 percent higher compared with June 2014 while the number of beef cows increased by 2 percent to 260,300 against a backdrop of continuing tight margins for suckled beef production.

The area of cereals was 4 percent lower in 2015 than in 2014. The pattern of cereal production changed significantly with the area sown to winter wheat down 6 percent and the area of spring barley down by 7 percent. Winter barley in contrast increased by 5 percent on the previous year to reach 7,000 hectares – the highest area grown since 1998.

The area of potatoes was down 14 percent on the previous year at 3,600 hectares. This is the lowest area on record for the crop. The area of arable silage fell by 18 percent, to 3,300 hectare, following a number of years when about 4,000 hectares were grown.

The area of forage maize was down 5 percent from 2014 at 1,500 hectares, less than half the area grown at the peak of the crop’s popularity in 2008 when 3,500 hectares were grown.

There was a 3 percent increase in the number of breeding ewes compared with 2014. Numbers have fluctuated in recent years, falling to a 20-year low of 875,900 in 2010 before rallying to 938,600 this year – the highest number since 2007. Lamb numbers increased by 4 percent, mainly as a result of higher ewe numbers and good grazing conditions during the breeding season in autumn 2014.

Sow and gilts in pig increased by 7 percent, compared with a year earlier, to 45,600. The overall pig herd was 10 percent bigger, largely as a result of growth in the number of fattening pigs. Imports of pigs for finishing had an influence on numbers; however a small number of large, highly productive businesses drive most of the change in the sector.

Continuing expansion in broiler and egg-production sectors was evident in the past year with the total number of birds 4 percent higher in June 2015 compared with a year earlier at 21.3 million.

And finally, the size of the agricultural labor force was little changed this June from the previous year at 48,000. However, the number of farmers increased by 3 percent to 30,100, reflecting increases in both the full-time and part-time farmer categories. The change was largely the result of an increase of in the number of farm businesses as of June this year compared to the same month in 2014.

Despite the current doom and gloom of the dairy industry in Northern Ireland, milking-cow numbers in the country have hit an all-time high.



Resource::http://www.agriview.com/news/dairy/dairy-cow-numbers-hit-all-time-high/article_efd2c3aa-338b-5842-b504-9ab44c9af092.html

Dairy exports from the US down, Australia and Europe remain strong, NZ slows, Fonterra says

Fonterra Cooperative Group [NZX: FCG], the world's largest dairy exporter, says US dairy exports are down due to domestic demand in the world's biggest economy but exports remain strong for Australia and Europe while New Zealand's shipments have slowed.

In a global dairy update released today, Fonterra said New Zealand total exports were up 2 percent from January to September compared to the same period last year although they decreased 5 percent in the September month.

Over the same period, US dairy exports fell 9 percent to satisfy increased demand in that country. However, September has shown a turnaround, with US exports rising 9 percent as skim milk powder sales climbed 48 percent and lactose gained 15 percent.

Last month, Fonterra said it would exit a 15-year joint venture with Dairy Farmers of America, selling its share of DairiConcepts, where Fonterra contributed key ingredients to the US dairy and cheese flavours business, while the American cooperative supplied a number of cheese and cheese-powder assets. Fonterra signed a long-term supply agreement as part of the sale.

Meantime, Australia's dairy exports have increased 8 percent from January to September compared to the same period in 2014, led by a 30 percent rise in skim milk powder and a 12 percent gain in cheese. In the September month, skim milk powder was up 41 percent.

European exports have lifted 6 percent from January to August with fluid and fresh dairy up 19 percent, both SMP and whey powder up 9 percent, and infant formula up 7 percent. In the month of August exports were up 22 percent, with significant increases from Poland, Italy and Germany.

On the import side, China imports increased 12 percent in October, the fourth consecutive month the figure has risen, with increases in most dairy categories apart from whole milk and skim milk powders. A lack of sales to China due to high inventory levels has contributed to a steep decline in global dairy prices in the past year as supply outweighed demand. Despite the recent growth, imports remain 13 percent lower from January to October compared to the same period last year.

The rest of the Asia remains strong with imports up 10 percent over the year across all categories while Latin American imports were also up 10 percent during that period, with demand strongest for WMP and SMP.

The global update also included a comparison of milk prices in its different milk pools globally - New Zealand, Australia, China and Chile.

In New Zealand, Fonterra's board last week retained its forecast milk payout for this season of $4.60 per kilogram of milk solids, which is in line with the same period last year. Global milk prices still need to lift significantly though in the first half of next year to achieve that level.

Milk prices in China are slowly recovering from the second half of last year when a decline had a major impact on 2015 earnings for Fonterra's international farming business. They are currently at around 315 Chinese yuan per 100/kgMS.

Fonterra's Australian and Chilean businesses largely source product locally so the local milk price is more relevant than the global one for input costs in those markets.

The milk price in Australia is currently at A$6/kgMS, which is lower than the 2015 financial year but still a higher level than global dairy prices. The milk price is set by the performance of cheese, butter, and liquid milk volumes and sales sourced from Australian milk.

The Soprole milk price in Chile is significantly lower than last year, at 196 Chilean pesos per litre. There is a lag from declining global dairy prices to local milk prices which were pushed up in the second half of last year due to drought in Chile. In spring, when milk volumes increase significantly, the weighted average milk price typically falls.

Fonterra said it wouldn't provide a kgMS comparison to the NZ payout given "differences in the payment structure, calculation approach, foreign exchange, seasonality and product mix".

Fonterra's milk collection for the month of November was 4 percent lower than the same month last year and the forecast is for a 6 percent reduction this coming season due to farmers reducing stocking rates and supplementary feeding to cut costs in the low milk price environment.

Resource:http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/dairy-exports-us-down-australia-and-europe-remain-strong-nz-slows-fonterra-says-b-182984

Dairy farming: KVASU plans tie-up with the Netherlands

Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) is preparing to collaborate with natural livestock farming initiatives of the Netherlands and Trans Disciplinary University (TDU), Bengaluru, to build practical solutions in the area of health.

The proposed collaboration between KVASU, natural livestock farming initiatives of the Netherlands government, and TDU aims at providing practical solutions to address increasing use of antibiotics, antimicrobial and other chemicals and pesticides in dairying across the world, says Vice Chancellor B. Ashok.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed in this regard soon,’ Dr. Ashok said adding that the focus would be on natural dairy farming.

The Netherlands Ministry of Health had already entered into a MoU with its India to help reduce antibiotic residue present in animal products such as milk and meat products and antimicrobial resistance among human beings and animals, T. P. Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU, said.

As antibiotic-resistant organisms affect human and animal health as well as environment, the issue would be studied under the Centre for One Health Education Advocacy, Research and Training (COHEART) of the varsity, Dr. Sethumadhavan said.

A global platform in the form of a consortium will be developed to pursue academic, research, knowledge transfer and exchange programmes for scientists, veterinarians, farmers, entrepreneurs, industry and women self-help groups.

In India, activities would be on community-based enterprise development for producing herbal medicines, organic/safe to consume dairy chain development with potential stakeholders and offer prospective courses for the stakeholders, he said.

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Karnataka Veterinary and Fisheries University, TDU, National Dairy Development Board and State milk unions of South India including Milma from the State would work together for this consortium, he added.

Dr. Sethumadhavan presented a paper on the underlying principle of One health at KVASU at a meeting which concluded in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Resource:  http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/dairy-farming-kvasu-plans-tieup-with-the-netherlands/article7985409.ece

Aerem chases $740m in the latest of dairy investment hype

Australian dairy farming and processing is attracting a lot of interest, but investors and farmers should be wary of ambitious targets from new hopeful Aerem.

Rapidly growing investment in Australia's dairy sector is delivering some big wins for farmers and investors, but some ambitious plans to create new dairying enterprises are failing to get up and could tarnish the sector.

Chinese demand for dairy and the hype around Canadian group Saputo's purchase of Warrnambool Cheese & Butter has helped drive the success of companies such as the listed Bellamy's.

 It has also been a factor behind dairying investment decisions made by billionaires Gerry Harvey, Gina Rinehart and China's own entrepreneur Lu Xianfeng, who just bought Australia's largest dairy company Van Diemen's Land for $280 million.

While the hype has helped the clamber of advisers, bankers and brokers who are itching to list new companies there are questions as to how beneficial it is for investors and primary producers. Some companies have not fared well. Australian Dairy Farms Group's share price has lost 60 per cent since its high last year.             

The latest company seeking dairy farming fame is one with a story, so far, of failure and frustration. The company, originally known as Linear Capital and now going by the name Aerem, which is Latin for the word "air", set out last year promising around 50 farmers in Victoria's south-west that it would buy their dairy properties.

The properties were to be used to build a massive herd of cows producing a major share of Victoria's total milk supply. A major Chinese investor was meant to stump up the equity to support the acquisition, but it never eventuated and month after month the farmers started to lose hope.
'It's been comical'

Half a dozen farmers whom The Australian Financial Review has spoken to refuse to go on the record about their frustrations. Many have restrictive options agreements and have been counselled by lawyers.

Pat O'Keefe owned a farm at Winslow and was in talks with the company. "It's been comical," he said. "One of them came out here. He had no farming experience and we probably talked more about horses."

Mr O'Keefe said he was "doubtful" from the beginning and decided to sell to another party. "We got a good offer which was a bit under theirs."

Many are questioning whether Aerem will ever eventuate. Investment bank JP Morgan has taken on the job of trying to help raise $740 million of debt and equity.

The promethean task was given the codename – Project Matador – which may not be the best name, given that the company will own a herd of cows.

In documents outlining the proposed investment in July and August – and the Financial Review has been informed the proposal has again changed significantly – Aerem proposed to have spent $384.1 million buying the farms and cows by September of this year.

A KPMG due diligence report on the plan noted that: "Aerem has authority for sale of real estate agreements to acquire 66 dairy farms, in Western Victoria for a total price of $312.8 million –  45,404 acres [18,374 hectares] in total."

To this day there is still yet to be one settled purchase by Aerem.
Creating a quagmire

The plan also included increasing milking numbers from 28,000 cows to about 52,000 cows by May 2019.

The vice-president-elect of Dairy Industry Association of Australia's Victorian division, Darryl Cardona, said that without any further land acquisition and with normal winter rains that plan could spell trouble.

"It risks being like the Blackmore Wagyu company, which was carrying twice as many cattle, and the Murrindindi Shire Council shut him down because it was determined that he was carrying too many per hectare. He was just going to create a quagmire."

Aerem intends to increase the size of the herd as part of increasing productivity. In the plan it said it wanted to increase annual milk production by 68.6 per cent over five years by increasing the herd size, making feed improvements such as increasing the amount of grain fed, and by improving capital investment and management structures.

"It does seem a bit far-fetched," Mr Cardona said.

Glenthompson Pastoral Company's Ted Mann is one farmer whose property Aerem wants to buy.

He said the expectations of higher productivity are possible on his farm but it can be risky.

"You could double production on our farm, but it's not how you want to run it, because it increases the stress on everything and we don't farm like that," Mr Mann said. "We cop a bit of criticism because we under-stock, but it means that we don't come under pressure during the downturns."

Dairy farmer Chris Gleeson of Elm Banks Holsteins near Warrnambool is sceptical.

"It's not impossible, but it's highly unlikely that it will happen because of increased costs. We have a high milk price but we also have high input costs."
664 kilograms of milk solids

In the Aerem plan it estimated that the Friesian cows it ends up owning will produce about 528 kilograms of milk solids per cow per year. Some agronomists said the average for all those herds would be more like 480 kilograms. Aerem expected the herd to increase production to 664 kilograms per cow per year.

Darryl Cardona said that besides using better genetics, companies can increase their productivity by using more grain, but that can be risky because grain prices can be volatile.

He says that a kilogram of grain costs about 45¢ and can be converted to an extra litre of milk production, which the farmer is currently selling for about 45¢. The cost of grain in Australia tends to fluctuate in the opposite direction of the $A, so as the $A falls it exports more and the domestic price of grain goes up.

Beyond the increase in productivity there also remain questions around the complexity of Aerem's plans for processing the milk into products such as infant formula – a food highly sensitive to health regulations.

The company's Troy Harper and the company's advisers have declined to comment on the company's plans.

A spokeswoman for the company said, "Aerem is continuing to work directly with interested investors and local farmers to finalise this complex but highly prospective project, which is a unique opportunity to maximise international demand for quality infant formula."

Michael Stewart of Charles Stewart & Co, who has been arranging the properties for sale, has not responded to inquiries.

Resource: http://www.afr.com/real-estate/aerem-chases-740m-in-the-latest-of-dairy-investment-hype-20151211-gllqi2

   

Do You Have Dairy Face? Here’s How to Fix It

As beauty editors, we’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest products that will give us flawless, glowing complexions, but sometimes these “magic elixirs” we come across just don’t seem to cut it. Turns out this isn’t necessarily the fault of our products, but rather the inner workings of our own bodies. Allow us to explain.

As the saying goes, you are what you eat, and that couldn’t be truer. Your skin reacts to what you put inside your body, and in some cases, your diet can wreak havoc on your skin. Case in point: a recent phenomenon called “dairy face.” Milk, cheese, and the like could actually be the main culprits for dark circles, under-eye bags, and white spots. Why does this happen, you ask? We turned to Maria Bella, owner of Top Balance Nutrition in NYC, to find out.

Bella explains that milk is a big aggravator for acne. What’s fascinating is that people who eat Western diets (foods heavy in high-fat dairy, refined grains, red meat, and sugar) are much likelier to have skin issues than populations who don’t eat dairy or refined carbs (like Pacific Islanders). Dairy, especially, results in an increase of sebum (the oily secretions that cause acne). Another issue? Milk hormones. These often cause inflammation of the skin, as well as premature aging and skin breakdown. Yikes! Sounds like that late night of Netflix and Cherry Garcia is giving us dark circles for reasons beyond just staying up until we finish the series.

Resource: https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/do-you-have-dairy-face-heres-how-to-fix-it-042834065.html

El Nino may lift future dairy prices: economist

An El Nino weather pattern expected to bring drought to parts of New Zealand could push dairy prices back up, Westpac bank says.

But in the meanwhile, the ASB has dropped its farmgate payout forecast to $4.60 per kilogram of milksolids, from $5. This brings it into line with Fonterra's present forecast figure.

World dairy prices fell 7.9 per cent at the GlobalDairyTrade auction on Wednesday.

Prices took a hit two weeks ago, dropping 7.4 per cent after a 3.1 per cent decline a fortnight earlier.

The average price at the latest auction slumped to US$2345 per metric tonne (FAS).

READ MORE:
* World dairy prices fall at auction
* Stockpiles tipped to keep dairy prices flat

Westpac senior economist Anne Boniface said the bank expected an El Nino weather pattern to bring drought conditions to parts of New Zealand over summer which would weigh on New Zealand milk production volumes and put upward pressure on prices later in the season.

However, a recent string of weak auction results and ongoing growth in milk production in other parts of the world needed to be factored into this season's payout forecast, Boniface said.

ASB economist Nathan Penny said prices would correct upwards before the end of the season, because a "large hole" was developing in global dairy exports.

"Although we expect prices to eventually end the season higher, these weak auctions have added up. As a result, we trim our 2015-16 milk price forecast by 40c to $4.60/kg," Penny said.
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New Zealand's major export whole milk powder fell 11 per cent, to an average price of US$2148.

There were 141 bidders trading 30,044 metric tonnes of dairy product.

By 7.20 Wednesday morning the New Zealand dollar had dropped to A90.85 cents against the aussie after closing on Tuesday at A91.48 cents.

It was also slightly down against the greenback trading at US64.67 cents.

Federated Farmers dairy spokesman Andrew Hoggard said news of the fall was disappointing, and he had hoped prices would be at least flat.

"It seems the rest of the world doesn't believe us when we say we've cut production," Hoggard said.

He was not optimistic that Fonterra would achieve its forecast payout of $4.60kg/MS, based on the futures market.

"The figure of US$3000 has been bandied about as the one that the whole milk price needs to reach in order to make that forecast price, but at present six months futures prices are not going above $2500. They are looking pretty weak," Hoggard said.

Meanwhile NZ First leader Winston Peters said at the end of September, the United States was sitting on over 105,000 tonnes of dry milk products, down 9.5 per cent on last year, but still up 9 per cent on 2013-14 – the last good payout season.

"The price spurt at the beginning of this season seems to have been buyers taking advantage of low prices to rebuild stocks ahead of El Nino.  Given the back half of the season is usually unkind pricewise, it is of major concern to rural New Zealand," Peters said.

Prime Minister John Key's "ham-fisted treatment" of Russia has cost farmers about $60 million in lost sales this year. Russia was a "real market" being avoided by Key, Peters said.

In response to the latest fall, AgriHQ has lowered its farmgate milk price to $4.27/kg MS.

Analyst Susan Kilsby agreed with Hoggard that, using the futures market as a guide, prices may not rise much more.

"At present buyers are generally well stocked and have ample supply options for dairy commodities. The drop in milk output from New Zealand in recent months has been matched threefold by the increase in production from Europe. Until global milk supplies drop further, prices are expected to remain soft," Kilsby said.

Resource :http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/dairy/74122129/El-Nino-may-lift-future-dairy-prices-economist

Midwest Dairy Expo Highlighting Latest Technology in Farming [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD — Farmers are leaving their homesteads and coming into St. Cloud this week for the annual Midwest Dairy Expo at the River’s Edge Convention Center. The latest in heavy equipment, technology and products are on display through Thursday.

One of the popular vendors this year is solar energy. Barry Thompson is a sales representative for Blue Horizon Energy out of Plymouth, Minnesota. He says more farmers are installing solar panels on their property to create their own energy.

Thomspon says there are tax credits available to install the solar panels and most people see the investment pay for itself in about eight years.  He says the technology allows farmers to bank their energy during peak sunlight hours for use later.

Also popular this year are the latest in robotics for milking, animal nutrition and stray voltage mitigation.

The Dairy Expo is expected to draw up to 600 people daily and runs thoug

Resource:http://wjon.com/midwest-dairy-expo-highlighting-latest-technology-in-farming-video/

Dairy prices up in latest world auction

Dairy product prices have risen overnight in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, rebounding from three consecutive declines, amid an improvement in market sentiment.

The GDT average winning prices advanced 3.6 percent to US$2,419, from US$2,345 at the previous auction two weeks ago, and gaining for the first time since the October 6 auction. Some 28,158 tonnes of product was sold, down from 30,044 tonnes two weeks ago.

The AgriHQ 2015-16 Farmgate Milk Price gained 21 cents to $4.48 per kilogram milksolids. This is comparable with Fonterra's current 2015-16 milk price forecast of $4.60/kgMS.

Whole milk powder prices made considerable gains on the NZX Dairy Futures market over the past fortnight, with the nearby contract lifting 8 percent.

READ MORE:
• Dairy supply down as farmers react
• Fonterra payout for struggling farmers $390m
• Hope rises for dairy prices next year

That sentiment flowed into GDT prices, according to AgriHQ dairy analyst Susan Kilsby. To be sure, excess supply will keep a lid on prices.

"Whilst we have seen a solid lift in prices at this auction, market fundamentals still remain weak due to the sheer volume of milk that is being produced across the globe," Kilsby said in a note. "Therefore any recovery in prices is likely to occur slowly."

Butter climbed 5.7 percent to US$3,009 a tonne, while whole milk powder increased 5.3 percent to US$2,260 a tonne. Skim milk powder rose 3.2 percent to US$1,918 a tonne, and anhydrous milk fat added 2.3 percent to US$3,519 a tonne.
Lactose was 1.7 percent higher at US$507 a tonne.

See more from the latest auction here.

Cheddar fell 1.5 percent to US$2,829 a tonne, rennet casein declined 4.3 percent to US$5,046 a tonne, while butter milk powder dropped 5.6 percent to US$1,729 a tonne.

The New Zealand dollar last traded at 66.75 US cents at about 11.22am in New York, compared with 65.84 US cents at 5pm in Wellington the previous day.

There were 121 winning bidders out of 161 participating bidders at the 15-round auction. The number of qualified bidders rose to 613, up from 609 at the last auction.

Resource: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11553380