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VOLUME XIV, NO. 11 |
TEXAS DAIRY REVIEW |
NOVEMBER 2005 |
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Going organic is viable choice for Aurora Dairy
Canola Oil May Soon Burn in Engine Rather than Frying
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Going organic is viable choice for Aurora Dairy |
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Where there’s a demand, there’s a need for supply. Clark Driftmier, senior vice president of marketing for Aurora Organic Dairy can attest to a viable demand by consumers as one of the major reasons why the company was founded in 2003. It also provides a choice for consumers, a luxury not afforded to them until the early 1990s.
Mark Peperzak, CEO of Aurora Organic Dairy and Mark Retzloff, president, teamed up years ago when both were co-founders of Horizon Organic Holding Corporation, the number one organic milk producer. The team plans to hit another home run with the recent formation of Aurora Organic Dairy that produces and processes on- the-farm organic milk bottled at a dedicated milk plant for their exclusive use. “Aurora is the only organic producer that has its own state-of-the art dedicated milk plant that can process both pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized milk,” Driftmier said. Because the plant is adjacent to the Colorado dairy farm, Aurora is among the industry’s fastest time from “cow to carton,” ensuring freshness to their customers, he added. Aurora Organic Dairy prides itself on six areas of expertise that includes quality, organic integrity, cost, supply, focus and accountability. The dairy serves private label customers for leading supermarket providers and natural food stores, both nationally and regionally. Aurora currently has two certified organic dairies, one of which is located at Dublin, Texas, and the other, at Platteville, Colorado, north of Denver, where their milk processing plant is also located. Aurora recently announced plans for a third organic dairy to be built at Kersey Colorado, east of Greeley. The Texas dairy has gone through a number of changes over the years before recently becoming a certified organic dairy. The Texas dairy currently milks 2,900 cows and the Platteville facility milks 4,200. The new facility at Kersey will milk 3,200, giving Aurora Organic Dairy a total of 7,100 milking cows. The organic dairy milking parlors are laid out much the same as conventional dairies with an exception as to how they are cleaned and what cleaning agents are used. “We use only organically approved cleaning products, teat dips, etc.,” Driftmier said. As the trend for organic products increases, so does the demand for certified organic land. “We’ve found that Texas provides some of the best organic land and farming areas. It will be in high demand in the future,” he said. Organic milk farming is a relatively young program. “The first organic milk was sold in supermarkets in 1993,” Driftmier said. But, consumer demand for purer products has increased rapidly with consumers latching on to the high quality of organic milk. “Consumers are realizing that well-balanced soils produce strong, healthy plants that become nourishing foods for people and animals and that organic agriculture is one way to prevent toxic chemicals from getting into the air, earth and water,” Driftmier said. Stringent regulations for the production of organic milk and other organically grown products.are required by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA)s National Organic Program. More specifically, all certified organic dairies are required to have access to pasture for ruminants. “Our Texas farm is audited each year by a certification agency and the dairy meets all requirements of the program. Our Texas dairy has several hundred acres of organic pasture,” Driftmier said. The USDA program requires that animals must eat certified organic feed, forages and grains, and that pastureland must be certified organic. “No pesticides or chemicals can be used on the land and animals cannot be given any kind of synthetic growth hormones.” Driftmier said more and more farmers are realizing that producing organic feeds provides a greater profit for them. “The price they can get is quite a big higher. For instance, the price premium on a lot of feeds is higher than the cost premium to produce it. This added profitability certainly provides a bright spot in agriculture,” he said. One major challenge in organic dairying is the narrower range for management of medicine to animals. “Our animals cannot have antibiotics. Instead, they are treated for diseases and illness through unique management techniques. However, if we’ve done all we can do for a sick animal with a serious infection, we will separate the animal, have it treated with antibiotics and then sell it out of the herd in order to save the life of the animal. But, in all cases, the animals are treated as humanely as possible.” Marketability of organic feed is another challenge. “There’s no commodity market established for organic feed. You have to build the relationships yourself. We currently have about 120 farmers who grow feed for us in nearby states.” Driftmier said the USDA and state departments like the idea of value-added agriculture which provides a sustainable economic vitality to farmers. “Providing organic milk does just that,” Driftmier said. “It also provides a choice to consumers and that’s what its all about.” |
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TDR party brings out the best |
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Plenty of ghosts, witches, and even a few aliens, were all part of the Texas Dairy Review Annual Appreciation Party’s theme this year on Sat. Oct. 29. Several dairy folks and friends showed up in costumes for the special occasion that focused on Halloween. The event is hosted by the Texas Dairy Review each year. The party is held in appreciation for the many customers and dairy producers who have supported the dairy newspaper for the past 14 years. This year, Monsanto Corporation helped to sponsor the TDR party and gift certificates for best Halloween costumes. Best Overall Costume went to Bob Strona, a dairyman from Itasca, who showed up as Dr. Felthersnatch; Most Original Costume went to Kristin Harrel for her look-alike costume that portrayed Pokey Stephens, manager of The Pub. The Best Couples Costume went to Joe Mike and Staci Foix. Gift certificates will be mailed to the winners. The Texas Dairy Review thanks Monsanto, the Royal Manor Pub and all its employees for doing an excellent job on the food and service. A special thanks goes to Charles Elliott, owner of the Royal Manor Pub and Apartments. See you next year! |
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U.S. dairies turn manure into profit |
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Dairies around the nation are proving that with the right technologies and practices, they can capture the agricultural and economic value of manure nutrients while reducing manure’s impact on air quality, water quality and global warming. A new report by the National Dairy Environmental Stewardship Council (NDESC) shows how innovative dairy producers are transforming a challenging waste product into a valuable farm asset. The report also provides recommendations for how national policies and programs can better support efforts to develop, demonstrate and implement effective manure management tools and technologies. “Manure is an ideal fertilizer for crops,” said Kristen Hughes, Dairies Project Manager at Sustainable Conservation, a leader of the Council. “Manure becomes even more economical relative to inorganic commercial fertilizer when natural gas prices rise, since natural gas accounts for up to 90% of inorganic fertilizer production costs.” In recent years, the price of natural gas has more than doubled, and in a single year, farmers around the nation paid $2 to $3 billion more in increased fertilizer costs. Exacerbated by the impact of recent hurricanes on Gulf Coast refineries, government forecasters are expecting significant increases in natural gas prices again this year. “That makes manure a very attractive fertilizer option for farmers and encourages dairy farmers to manage manure wisely and sell any excess to local farmers,” Hughes explained. “In the face of increasing pressure to address water quality, air quality, odor and other conservation challenges, dairy farmers of all sizes are finding they need better, more innovative ways to manage and utilize their manure,” said Suzy Friedman, Staff Scientist at Environmental Defense. “Development, demonstration and implementation of economically viable manure management tools and technologies are critical to the survival of this important industry.” Manure can also be used to produce renewable energy through the process of anaerobic digestion. Minnesota dairy farmer Dennis Haubenchild reports, “My methane digester is producing enough electricity to run my operation plus another 80 residential homes.” If installed on all U.S. dairies, methane digesters could generate enough electricity to power approximately 600,000 homes and provide an additional income stream for dairy farmers. At the same time, the technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming, and reduces odors and pathogens. The NDESC is a collaboration between dairy producers, environmental organizations, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and academics, which was formed by Sustainable Conservation and Environmental Defense. The report, “Cost-Effective and Environmentally Beneficial Dairy Manure Management Practices,” provides detailed examples of cost-effective manure management strategies to assist producers in matching manure nutrients to crop needs and capturing nutrients in dairy manure, as well as specific quantified results. For example, producers in California’s Central Valley are eliminating commercial fertilizer purchases and saving up to $100 per acre annually by using land application techniques that match manure nutrients to crop growth. This technique allows farmers to maximize the crop’s uptake of manure nutrients while minimizing groundwater contamination. Some producers have reduced production costs and energy consumption and increased their net profit per cow threefold with a practice called management intensive grazing. Instead of confining cows in one place and growing crops to feed them, cows are rotated through paddocks where they graze on grass and deposit manure directly on fields. Done properly, this can benefit soil and water quality. National Dairy Environmental Stewardship Council Members Marsha Campbell Matthews (Farm Advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension), Glenn Carpenter (Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service), Leslie Cooperband (Extension Specialist, University of Illinois), Art Darling (Executive Director, Sunshine State Milk Producers), Nathan DeBoom (Chief of Staff, Milk Producers Council) Allen Dusault (Program Director, Sustainable Conservation), Suzy Friedman (Staff Scientist and Agricultural Policy Analyst, Environmental Defense, Center for Conservation Initiatives), Rick Koelsch (Livestock Environmental Engineer, University of Nebraska), Joseph Harner III (Professor, Kansas State University), J. Mark Powell (Research Soil Scientist, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center), Kelly Shenk (U.S. EPA, Chesapeake Bay Program), John Sweeten (Resident Director, Texas A & M Research and Extension Center), Ann Wilkie (Associate Professor, University of Florida), Peter Wright (New York State Conservation Engineer, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; Northeast Dairy Producers Association) About Sustainable Conservation Sustainable Conservation partners with business, agriculture and government leaders to find practical ways that the private sector can protect clean air, clean water and healthy ecosystems. The independent nonprofit organization leads powerful collaborations that produce lasting solutions and sustain the vitality of both the economy and the environment. Recent accomplishments include: demonstrating “conservation tillage,” which decreases particulate air pollution while reducing farmers’ energy and labor costs; establishing a set of business practices for automobile recyclers to keep toxic materials out of the waterways; and creating a regulatory framework for private landowners to get prompt one-stop approval of sound habitat restoration projects. About Environmental Defense Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems. Environmental Defense is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including future generations. Among these rights are clean air, clean water, healthy food and flourishing ecosystems. The organization is guided by scientific evaluation of environmental problems, advocating for solutions based on science, even when it leads in unfamiliar directions, and working to create solutions that are nonpartisan, cost-effective and fair. With major support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and a private donor, Environmental Defense created the Center for Conservation Incentives to develop and expand incentives for the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity on working farms, ranches, non-industrial forestlands and other private lands. For more information, visit www.environmentaldefense.org. Contact: Carolyn Brown, 510-813-5521, carolyn.brown1@sbcglobal.net or Kristen Hughes, 415-977-0380 x308, khughes@suscon.org. U.S. DAIRIES TURN MANURE INTO PROFIT WHILE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT; NEW REPORT SHOWS BEST PRACTICES IN ACTION San Francisco, Calif., October 6, 2005 -- |
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Canola Oil May Soon Burn in Engine Rather than Frying Pan |
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A growing market for biodiesel fuels is heating up interest in canola among Texas producers. Dr. Brent Bean, Texas Cooperative Extension agronomist here, said he quit participating in the National Winter Canola Variety Trials some time back when interest waned. But he’s participating once again due to calls from several producers. David Bordovsky, Texas Agriculture Experiment Station research scientist in Chillicothe, said he hasn’t had a lot of producer interest, but he expects his work in the national variety trials will play a role as canola becomes a larger part of the growing biodiesel industry. Canola’s industrial use began as a lubricant for machinery during World War II. In the 1970s, it was developed more for human consumption and that’s when Kansas State University began playing an active role. Kansas State’s canola breeding program is the lead agency in the National Winter Canola Variety Trials, said Cindy LaBarge, assistant scientist. K-State has primarily focused on human consumption in the past, she said, but the biodiesel end started picking up in the past couple years, LeBarge said. “Especially with the higher fuel prices, I think people are starting to look for alternative fuel sources and biodiesel is really catching on,” she said. Producers are shifting their attitudes also, realizing canola is a crop they might make more profit from than wheat. And they don’t have to change equipment, LaBarge said. Dr. Bill Heer, Kansas State University agronomist in Hutchinson, Kan., said some of the interest is because canola is slightly better than soybeans because of higher oil yields. Soybean oil also is more expensive, because more of it is used in edible food. As more players enter the marketplace for canola, with competition between the food and biodiesel markets, producers can expect even better prices with the canola, Heer said. This year, several producers have planted circles of canola in the Dumas and Dalhart areas in the northwest corner of the Panhandle. With this in mind, Bean planted his 40-variety trial near Dalhart. But he said producer interest was expressed as far south as Floydada. The majority of canola is planted in Canada and the northern U.S., so the goal of the trials will be to find varieties suited to this region’s climate, Bean said. “We used to grow a few acres of canola around here in the late 80s, early 90s,” he said. “But the price just wasn’t there to make it competitive if you had to haul it.” At that time, the Frito Lay plant in Hereford and an oil mill near Quanah were taking the canola from producers in the Hereford and Wellington areas, Bean said. Where the producers will take their seed to be processed now is uncertain, he said, but some producers have expressed interest in starting a crushing plant. One good thing now is there is Roundup Ready canola, Bean said. Previously, herbicide treatments were limited. Canola is grown on a similar time line as wheat and is harvested with a combine, he said. Yields of around 3,500 pounds to the acre are hoped for under irrigation, without any winter grazing, Bean said. Canola is a broadleaf crop, rather than a grass like wheat, sorghum and corn, he said. It is always beneficial to the soil to rotate grass and broadleaf crops. Bordovsky said growing canola presents some problems. Getting a stand can be difficult due to the small seeds. The seeds also can be lost through any holes in the combine or truck after harvest. And, canola has a tendency to shatter at harvest, he said. Canola makes a rosette in the fall. The flower stalk that shoots up in the spring starts blooming around mid-March and early April. As long as the heat doesn’t stop it, and it has plenty of moisture, it will keep blooming and get taller, Bordovsky said. “The taller it is, the more pods you have and the higher the yield,” he said. Canola is a rapeseed, which is part of the mustard family. Rapeseed oil can’t be used for human consumption due to high amounts of erucic acid, Bordovsky said. However, the Food and Drug Administration approved it for food production in the U.S. when researchers bred varieties low in erucic acid. To distinguish these varieties from rapeseed, they coined the name canola, he said. Bordovsky worked with canola at the Munday research facilities, as well as three years at Chillicothe. His work serves as a screening trial primarily, but he said the crop will work well for someone who has center pivot, which allows a light watering. With is no market in the immediate area, it is not grown on any significant basis, he said. Contracts with a crusher are needed, as well as an oil mill if it were to be considered for human consumption.Another concern for growing canola is weather. “With the way our harvest weather can get, it can go from too green on Friday to too late by Monday,” Bordovsky said. “The wind and temperatures dry it down in a hurry. When that happens, it’s subject to the pods shattering.” Sometimes just a hard beating rain can shatter 40 percent of it, he said. Bean said shatter-resistance will be one factor he screens varieties on in his trials, as well as winter hardiness. Regardless of the possible production problems, both Bordovsky and Bean agreed if the market is pumped up by the growing biodiesel industry, producers around the region could soon be seriously looking at canola as an alternative crop once again. |
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Bird flu may boost massive vaccination plan |
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Although birds---of all creatures---have always appeared to be the most harmless to humans, it’s no joke that the flu they are spreading is something to worry about. According to one of the latest reports by Bloomberg.com, a U.S. outbreak of avian flu could kill as many as 1.9 million people and hospitalize 9.9 million. The estimates were taken from a new U.S. plan to protect Americans against a pandemic, meaning an epidemic. In a race against nature, medical personnel and workers in drug manufacturing plants should receive vaccines first under the plan released Nov. 1 by the Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt. President George Bush proposed spending $7.1 billion on vaccines and drugs, medical research, and training for public health officials worldwide. The spreading of the avian influenza among wild and domestic fowl, mostly in Southeast Asia, has brought the need for massive vaccination to the table, according to public health officials. Scientists worry the virus may acquire the ability to spread among humans of whom there is a lack of natural immunity to the avian flu. The U.S. should recommend the largest annual vaccination program ever undertaken as a way to prepare against the threat of an avian influenza pandemic, they said. In Southeast Asia, at least 121 people have been infected, killing 62 of them, said the World Health Organization (WHO). Some birds in Europe have been targeted with the virus but no humans have been infected thus far. The Bloomberg report said most humans have contracted the avian flu from contact with bird feces or blood. |
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2005 Texas Ag Expo golf winners |
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The weather was exceptional as golfers gathered for a little friendly competition at the TriCounty Agribusiness Association (TCAA) annual Texas Ag Expo Golf Tournament held at Legends Golf Course on Oct. 27. TCAA thanks the many golfers and hole sponsors who helped raise funds for ag-related youth projects. 1st Flight 1st: Legends/Jam Dot Dairy ($400 Cash) James, Ricky & John Traweek, and Mike Echols 2nd: AgTexas - Comanche ($200 Cash) Trent Tidwell, Jody Glasgow, Kurt Patterson, and Jarod Harp 3rd: United Cooperative Services ($100 Cash) Jake Brooks, Mike Majors, Mac Glazier and Kyle Glazier 2nd Flight 1st: Prairie View Dairy ($400 Cash) David Lloyd, Jeremiah Beltman, Roman Sanchez and Fred Ray 2nd: Yellowhouse Machinery ($200 Cash) Ted Evans, Marshal Pirkston, Mike Kerr and David Jones 3rd: Dairy Farmers of America ($100 Cash) Charles Wesson, Danny Glossup, Pete Whitefield, Cam Robinson Last Place ‘Milk Dud’ Award: KCUB Radio JD Evans, John Hollinger, Steve Ross and Russ Snell Longest Drive Jody Glasgow ($100 Cash) Closest to the Pin Jr. Savage ($100 Cash) |
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