Midwest milk production moves higher
Page 8 • Dairy Star • Saturday, January 30, 2016
In the 23 major dairy states, December milk production totaled 16.4 billion pounds. That’s up 0.7 percent from a year ago. Wisconsin milk production increased 4.8 percent. Minnesota milk producAg Insider tion increased 2.9 percent. South Dakota’s milk output was up 13 percent and California milk output is down 3 percent. Attempt at veto override comes up short The Senate was unable to override President Barack Obama’s veto of the Waters of the U.S. disapproval resolution. The By Don Wick 52-40 vote fell eight votes Columnist shorts of the 60 votes needed to invoke closure and move to the override vote. During the debate, South Dakota Senator John Thune spoke against the EPA rule. “I don’t know of any issue in recent history that has generated the kind of grassroots opposition this has.” Promoting TPP The U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation are continuing to play an active role in the Trans-Pacic Partnership trade agreement process. USDEC President Tom Suber testied before the U.S. International Trade Commission representing the U.S. dairy industry. Suber told the ITC that TPP falls short in providing the market access sought by the dairy industry, but it also avoids a disproportionate opening of the U.S. market to dairy exporters. TPP signing ceremony scheduled New Zealand will host a signing ceremony for
the Trans-Pacic Partnership on February 4. Once the TPP is signed, all 12 countries will be able to start their own ratication process and will have up to two years to complete that before the agreement takes effect. Antibiotic use discussed at DC forum The Farm Foundation hosted a National Press Club forum on antibiotic use in both humans and animals. Joe Swedberg, a retired executive from Hormel Foods, chairs the project advisory committee. “The purpose of it was to provide everyone the proper information they needed to implement the new guidelines, which will take place on January 1, 2017. We wanted to make sure everyone understood their role, because it’s a voluntary program and it’s an opportunity for the industry and everyone involved to show a voluntary program can work.” Swedberg said there are different perspectives about the new Veterinary Feed Directive among veterinarians and producers, so relationships will be critical. “Rather than when you have animals that are sick and need treatment, now, it’s going to be a more on-going relationship in regards to the Veterinary Feed Directive, because they’re going to have to have that relationship in order to be able to treat the animals that way.” A team decision To get more out of the silage season, dairy nutritionist Luciana Jonkman encourages team planning. That team includes the farmer, the harvester and the dairy producer. “Right in the middle of that is the nutritionist. I feel the nutritionist has a vested interest in making sure everything happens as right as possible.” Jonkman, who works for Progressive Dairy Solutions in California, spoke at the U.S. Custom Harvesters convention. Due to the drought, forage supplies are short in California. “The drought has made us all aware that this is a precious commodity and we must take care of it.” Turn to AG INSIDER | Page 9
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